Synopsis: Gerald, a well-off accountant, is taking riding lessons at Brett’s stable. He feels attracted to Brett, and vice versa, but both men assume that the other is straight. Eventually that little misconception is cleared up and they own up to their feelings. Brett is totally smitten and wants to make it permanent. However, he is not certain how Gerald feels about things. He is getting mixed signals and is never sure whether they are both really in sync.
Review: I loved the blurb when I first read about this book and got it right away when it came out. I expected a solid story with two lovable men and without unbearable angst and adventure. And Ariel Tachna and Madeleine Urban delivered. Gerald and Brett were both absolutely realistic characters. They got to know each other over quite a long period of time and became close friends. On both sides there was sexual tension, but neither of the two ever let on about it (at least not knowingly).
Gerald’s easy going manner, agreeing to Brett’s every suggestion made Brett more and more uneasy. Why doesn’t he voice his own wishes? Why does he never say what he’d rather do? It never occurred to him that Gerald just agreed because their wishes were the same, but he always suspected Gerald didn’t care enough to even bother. Sweet!
This was a very pleasant and satisfying story. I enjoyed reading about the life at a riding stable and the chores that come along with it. I could picture the horses, the landscape, the old farm, the barbecue as if I was right there. The two protagonists were great characters that went very well together. If you enjoy a story that focuses on the couple and their feelings, with lots of love and a great atmosphere, you will find "Sutcliffe Cove" delightful. I certainly did.
Available at Dreamspinner Press
If you have read my reviews of Alliance in blood and Covenant in blood you will know that I absolutely love the “Partnership in blood†series by Ariel Tachna. The third volume “Conflict in blood†will be released in May and an excerpt is now available on Dreamspinner. The excerpt is about Jean and Raymond, not one of my favourite couples in the book, but I enjoyed reading it nevertheless. If you are interested, I strongly recommend you read the first two books, otherwise the story won’t make much sense to you.
Synopsis: The war between the wizards is raging on affecting the natural balance. Meanwhile the wizards and vampires slowly realize that the connection between the couples entails more than just giving and receiving blood and the vampires’ immunity to the sun. Some couples are completely happy with each other, while others are struggling. Still they have to make it work so that the alliance will remain intact. Marcel and Jean, the leaders of the two groups, are preparing to announce their alliance publicly, to even get more support in their fight against the dark wizards around Serrier.
Review: Again the story kept me reading all night. More details are coming out about the bond between wizards and vampires that make the stories about the various couples even more interesting. The "aveu de sang" (blood vow) between Alain and Orlando is still strong, but due to Orlando’s past and all his hang-ups the relationship between the two becomes more difficult. Alain would like more than Orlando is able to give. I can’t wait to learn more about how those great guys will overcome their problems.
All the characters, who were already quite distinct in the first part, are getting even more fleshed out in the second one. The relationship between Thierry and Sebastien is getting more room in this book, and I’m already looking forward to reading even more about them in the next one. The same goes for Jean and Raymond and some other couples.
If you like vampire stories with a great story arc that stretches over more than one book, great love scenes and lovable characters, this is the series for you. It certainly is the series for me.
Available at Dreamspinner Press
[rating:5]
Synopsis: For some time a conflict has been brewing in Paris. Dark wizards are trying to upset the natural order of things and take over. The milice wizards see a chance to gain a decisive advantage by persuading the vampires to join their forces.
In order to start negotiations Jean, the leader of the wizards sends his captain Alain to meet with an emissary of the vampires. As soon as Alain meets Orlando there is an instant attraction between the two.
It turns out that wizards and vampires can form a mutual bond that enables the vampires to face the sun, which makes them even more powerful allies than the wizards thought they would be. The bond depends on a certain chemistry, not every wizard is right for every vampire and vice versa. Thus there are some who struggle with their forced choice of partner, others are a perfect fit.
One of those latter couples are Alain and Orlando. They click from the first moment and decide to not only be partners in the alliance but much more than that.
Meanwhile the war with the dark wizards is raging on…
Review: Ariel Tachna says she has never read a vampire story in her life (haven’t I heard that before?), so I was expecting something in the line of Twilight as far as the vampire culture was concerned. Was I wrong! She did a great job building a complex world with a lot of characters to keep track of. All the characters are fleshed out and have a distinct personality. Just the thought of all those wizards and vampires walking around in beautiful Paris is so exciting. From what I understand the whole story of the war was written as one book and then later divided into four parts. This first part has no conclusion and at the end I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second part.
The idea of wizards and vampires forming some blood bond is fascinating and really kept my interest up. Since Alain and Orlando are the first two to pair up (and not because they had to, but because they chose each other), this part mainly deals with them. However, a lot of other characters are being introduced in a way that was neither forced nor seemed rushed in any way.
Now, Alain and Orlando: wow, what a couple! I have hardly ever read a romance with such an (instant) attraction and such devotion to each other. From the word go they hit it off and don’t waste any time on beating around the bush. Some people might complain about this being totally unrealistic, and so on, but so what? Yeah, this might not reflect reality, but after reading this you wish it would. This is a true love story. The way Alain wants to help Orlando overcome his insecurities and the way they interact is just beautiful. Of course, there are a few love scenes, but this story also offers scenes in which the love and tenderness between Alain and Orlando shows without all the plain sex. I have read my share of vampire stories by now, but I have never read a scene describing a vampire bite as sensual and erotic as in this book. There are no idiotic misunderstandings, problems are being dealt with immediately. Those two guys are the epitome of a couple truly loving each other.
What a fantastic read! I’m now halfway into book two and know I’ll have to wait until May for the third part to be released. Bummer!
Available at Dreamspinner Press
[rating: 5]
