Embraced by Blood (Sweetblood, #2)

Jun 22, 2011 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the second full-length Sweetblood novel by Laurie London, we see Lily losing her sense of smell. For a tracker, that’s like a bloodhound that can’t smell.

Lily feels her identity is so strongly attached to her title, Class A Tracker (best of the best), that she has been faking it so no one would notice. Unfortunately, while she’s pretending everything’s a-okay, her partner, and trainee gets kidnapped by Darkbloods. And Lily sees that if she’d spoken up sooner, maybe he wouldn’t have been taken...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Francesca the Fierce ~Eyelet Ecstasy~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-paranormal-romance, vampires, series-sweetblood, books-read-2011

This review was posted at Under The Covers

This was such a turnaround, in my opinion, of the Sweetbloods series! I'm actually so excited! The book was amazing!!! I actually think my feelings on this have a lot to do with the fact that I liked the heroine, Lily, a lot. She was one of my 2 favorite characters from the first book, and I really felt for her then and now! And, well, Alfonso helped matters a lot. The sexy Spaniard with longish blond hair and piercing Paul Newman blue eyes with sexy dim...more This review was posted at Under The Covers

This was such a turnaround, in my opinion, of the Sweetbloods series! I'm actually so excited! The book was amazing!!! I actually think my feelings on this have a lot to do with the fact that I liked the heroine, Lily, a lot. She was one of my 2 favorite characters from the first book, and I really felt for her then and now! And, well, Alfonso helped matters a lot. The sexy Spaniard with longish blond hair and piercing Paul Newman blue eyes with sexy dimples. What can I say? I'm sucker for a hot bad boy! And this one was so in love with Lily he was willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe.

They have a history together, they were first together 10 years ago, before Alfonso turned bad boy for Pavlos. And neither one of them has been able to forget the other. When Alfonso comes in during book 1 as a secret informer so that they can bring down Pavlos and their sweetblood operation, they rekindled their romance. And the few, very brief moments we got then left me intrigued. But then Alfonso had to "fake" his own death, and Lily found out only to believe he didn't want anything else to do with her. Which has left her in a bad state. Her abilities are diminishing, she used to be the best Tracker, and now she has to rely more on the trainees with her.

But when the DarkBloods are kidnapping Trackers in order for them to find sweetbloods, Alfonso comes in to protect and guard Lily. Which she may have a bit of a problem with.

Lily is kick ass, independent, calls it as she sees it, and doesn't take shit from anyone. Alfonso is still head over heels in love with her, but having a blood assassin on his back trying to kill him, he decides to stay away from Lily to protect her.

There was so much happening in this one! Not only the trackers are being kidnapped and Alfonso has a blood assassin after him, but the DarkBloods are using a video game to promote a sort of "vampire feeding rave".

I enjoyed all the supporting stories as well, Jackson was amazing, I can't wait to read his book. Alfonso was adorable with Lily's daughter Zoe, and there's a wonderful twist there. But... what is up Dom's butt about his brother? I understand he played a part, involuntarily, in the death's of their parents, but I think he's been punished enough, and has tried to redeem himself. Give the guy a chance! In the end, see what a difference a book without MacKenzie can make!?!?!?!

I'm anxiously waiting the next installment in this series.(less)

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Jul 18, 2011 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, paranormal-romance, vampires, netgalley-reviews, blog-tour-review, my-reviews

Romancing the Dark Side Review:

Alfonso Serrano is a wanted man in a world where vampires are torn by two different agendas, Darkbloods, bloodthirsty predators and Guardians, the protectors of humanity. Leaving everything important to him behind, Alfonso has spent his time evading the Darkbloods who seek vengeance for his betrayal. As a Guardian with a special gift, Lily DeGraff is an asset to her team and a valuable asset for the Darkbloods as well. When Lily becomes just as wanted as Alfonso b...more Romancing the Dark Side Review:

Alfonso Serrano is a wanted man in a world where vampires are torn by two different agendas, Darkbloods, bloodthirsty predators and Guardians, the protectors of humanity. Leaving everything important to him behind, Alfonso has spent his time evading the Darkbloods who seek vengeance for his betrayal. As a Guardian with a special gift, Lily DeGraff is an asset to her team and a valuable asset for the Darkbloods as well. When Lily becomes just as wanted as Alfonso by the Darkbloods, he has no choice but to go after the woman he loves and sacrificed long ago. Their reunion will ignite long lost passions that will once again be threatened by the enemy.

I initially thought I'd be lost while reading the second book in a series but Embraced by Blood gives you enough back story and details to jump right into the story without feeling overwhelmed. This book has a solid story line with amazing characters and non-stop action. If you've ever read my reviews you know I adore an Alpha hero and this book gives you that and more. Alfonso is ever the Alpha and Lily is an Alpha heroine in her own right...it's great to have two equally strong characters with some of the best sexual tension I've read come together! The main characters in this paranormal romance already share a history, so all the courting and getting to know one another has already been established, giving you a deeper look into their relationship.

Alfonso is a great tortured hero who is willing to sacrifice his feelings to keep those he loves safe. It's very easy to connect with his character from the start and want him to ultimately have a happy ending. His loyalty and devotion are the two traits that make his character beautiful, yet haunting. What I admire most about Alfonso is his acknowledgement of his past errors and his ability to grow from them, he is a tortured soul but doesn't harp on that...he's determined to fight for what he believes in no matter the cost.

Lily is a fierce heroine who can hold a candle to any of her male Guardian trackers. Her strength and take charge attitude make her the perfect match for Alfonso. She also shows vulnerability when it comes to love and her daughter, which makes her character multi-faceted and realistic. Lily struggles with opening her heart up to Alfonso again, until she's faced with the possibility of losing him forever and decides to give into the only love she's ever known. Seeing a strong woman like her finally wear her heart on her sleeve is truly commendable if you ask me. There are scenes between Lily and Alfonso that are heartwarming and then there are scenes that are plain scorching...these two know how to heat things up!

Embraced by Blood is a fast paced paranormal romance combining mystery, suspense and romance in a fresh and creative vampire world. The supporting story lines keep the intrigue on high and the unexpected twists add some drama to the forbidden romance that encompasses this book. Your heart will be on an emotional roller coaster from chapter one and take you on an unbelievable ride you won't want to end. Laurie London has outdone herself with a new, smart and sexy vampire series. A must read for those who like their vampires dark, sweet and sexy!

{ebook courtesy of NetGalley for review}(less)

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Jun 15, 2011 Crystal ♥ RBtWBC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-of-2011

Another smashing read from author Laurie London, definitely a writer to add to your auto-buy list!

Embraced by Blood begins a year following Bonded by Blood where we found out that Dom’s brother, Alfonso Serrano, was not the evil Darkblood we thought but a double agent working undercover and having a secret affair with his agent contact, Lily DeGraff, which was broken off at the end of the book. But what they didn’t realize was that they were blood bonded, and there is no turning back from that.

L...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: requests, paranormal-romance

http://www.bittenbyparanormalromance....
Ollie's review below
Embrace by Blood is the second book in Laurie London's Sweetblood series that debuted earlier this year to rave reviews and once again does not disappoint readers.

The second book in the series starts off a year later and Alfonso Serrano is still a broken vampire in more ways then one. Not only physically trying overcome an injury he thinks makes him weaker but also a broken heart that craves for forgiveness and love that he knows will n...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Requested from NetGalley by me
Overall Rating: 4.0
Character Rating: 4.25
Pacing Rating: 3.75
Story Rating: 4.0

NOTE: Dang I read this out of order without realizing it was part of a series. I am definitely going to read the first one because I really enjoyed Laurie London's writing style!

What I Loved: In Embraced by Blood, I was pleasantly surprised to read a story that I think harkened back to the beginning of paranormal romances. It felt like a classic good vs evil, paying for your sins, and reali...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, action-adventure, holiday, paranormal, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

This isn’t your mother’s vampire story.

First off: good news to folks who pick this story up without reading the first book in the series (like me!) – it’s good as a stand alone book. I had absolutely no problems following relationships between the characters or missing any back plot. Good news for those who have read the first book – this book leaves you wanting to continue the saga. There isn’t a “cliff-hanging” ending, so it the re...more Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

This isn’t your mother’s vampire story.

First off: good news to folks who pick this story up without reading the first book in the series (like me!) – it’s good as a stand alone book. I had absolutely no problems following relationships between the characters or missing any back plot. Good news for those who have read the first book – this book leaves you wanting to continue the saga. There isn’t a “cliff-hanging” ending, so it the reader gets their “happy for now”, but the characters are complex and likeable and the prospect of reading the third book in the series is a pleasurable one.

I found it disconcerting, then refreshing, then intriguing the way Ms. London treats the “vampire heritage”, the most notable difference being the presence of “born vampires”. This is the first time I have come across a novel (romance or otherwise) that has the possibility of a child being born into a vampire family. It is also the first time I have read of vampire marriages. While changing of a mortal to vampire is still practiced in this story, the majority of this story’s characters are “born” to vampire families and experience the vampire “change”.

The complex social structure and different sects of vampires gives this story a very modern twist. In many ways, the social and governing structure described in this story resembles current American society. This is also quite clear in the dealings of sweetbloods or “sweet” as it is commonly referred to. Within the context of this story, this blood type has an addictive quality to vampires and causes behavior much the same as heroin or cocaine use might be expected to cause in a human. Therein lies the basic premise of good versus evil . . . using sweet to coerce vampires to commit acts they would not normally engage in.

However, we don’t pick up a romance novel to draw parallels between contemporary society and the fictional situations described. We also don’t find the romance enticing because of the morality of the plot. We read it for the sizzle. And sizzle this book has in abundance!

Due to the vampire characterization, most of the interactions have a touch of violence to them – the ultimate act of vampire intimacy is sharing their blood. So – in addition to the carnal acts that we are familiar with, there is the description of blood lust and fang-bearing and some blood drinking.

Having said that: I am not a fan of violent or “gory” stories, yet truly did not have a problem with any of the intimate scenes, including the ones that involved blood sharing.

There is a sexual undercurrent throughout the book, given the sensual nature of the vampire society. During their attempt to find a missing tracker, Lil and Alfonso visit a sex club and arrange to use a viewing room. Using the room will allow them to look for their colleague, but also requires them to have sex in front of an entire club of vampires and humans. While the outcome of that encounter is unexpected, it is certainly an interesting read!

Lil and Alfonso have a common novelized romance – complete with misunderstanding that drives them apart for many years and creates an atmosphere of longing and distrust. It also creates some amazing moments when they give in to their cravings. Please make sure you enjoy the hospital scene!

The plot twists and turns kept me turning the pages and the sizzle made the page turning worthwhile! Grab your copy today!

(less)

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Jul 20, 2011 Laurie Jenkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, contemporary, fiction, kindle, net-galley, read-in-2011, paranormal, romance, vampires

This is the second book in Laurie London’s Sweetblood series, and I have not yet read the first novel. However, this book easily stands on its own with just enough back story to pique my interest and whet my appetite for the first book so that I can find out the whole story of Alfonso’s older brother and enticing details of the events which caused the rift between them.

I genuinely liked Alfonso and found myself immensely sympathetic to his character. His protective instincts, especially where Li...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Beverly rated it 5 of 5 stars

My thoughts:
I truly enjoyed the first book in this series, Bonded by Blood, but I LOVED this one!
Again, London has given us characters to really sink our teeth in (pardon the pun!).
We were given glimpses of both Lily and Alfonso in the first book, but this is their story and it does not disappoint!!!
Alfonso and Lily are absolutely incredible characters. Their ability and willingness to sacrifice and fight are only two of the characteristics that make you fall in love with them.
Alfonso is the...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Tishia (Paranormal Opinion) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Embraced by Blood is the 2nd book in the Sweetblood series. I hadn't read the first book in the series, and while I don't think that it is necessary to, I just had this feeling that I was missing out when characters from the previous book were brought up. Alfonso and Lily are the leading characters in this particular book. They were a couple once upon a time, but Alfonso left Lily because he thought he was protecting her. He didn't want her to know the real reason he left, so he told her that he...more Embraced by Blood is the 2nd book in the Sweetblood series. I hadn't read the first book in the series, and while I don't think that it is necessary to, I just had this feeling that I was missing out when characters from the previous book were brought up. Alfonso and Lily are the leading characters in this particular book. They were a couple once upon a time, but Alfonso left Lily because he thought he was protecting her. He didn't want her to know the real reason he left, so he told her that he didn't love her any more.

After hearing that Lily could be in danger, Alfonso comes back - to be a bodyguard of sorts. Not surprisingly, Lily is not a happy camper to see Alfonso again. He is determined to make this strictly platonic - he doesn't want to get involved with her again. He doesn't think that he is the type of man that she should be with, but he wants to protect her while she is searching for her missing partner. After spending so much time together, the old flames heat up again and it's almost impossible for them to resist each other.

This is a great paranormal vampire romance. Many times in vampire romance novels, one person in the relationship is a vampire while the other is not. Basically, everyone in this book is a vampire which makes it different than a lot of books out there that I've read. There is plenty of danger, suspense, and action in this book.

My favorite aspects, however, were sexual tension, heated passion, and sweet romance. Alfonso is such a great guy, and it is sad to see how he doesn't think that he is deserving of anything of worth in his life because of what he has done in his past. Lily, is a sweet and loving person (and a kick ass heroine) that can only see the best qualities in Alfonso. They love each other deeply, even though they try to deny it to one another (and themselves) for half the book. I would recommend this book to any vampire lover who isn't afraid of a little bloodshed added to the mix. Because of the sizzling sex scenes, I would say that it is definitely for adults.(less)

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Jun 16, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Great characters in ‘Embraced by Blood’. While I didn’t get a chance to read ‘Bonded by Blood’ the first in the ‘Sweetblood Series’ I’m going to take a step back, before moving ahead.

I’m fairly new to the paranormal genre, but what I enjoy most of all is the creativity and flexibility the author takes. I love how there are no rules, it’s what the writer wants. In ‘Embraced by Blood’ if the vampires have a special connection to another vampire, there blood bond could bring out hidden talents bet...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Pat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, always-worth-re-reading, favorites, naughty-bits, paranormal, romance, series, urban-fantasy

This story is actually better than the last. I loved it and am looking forward to the next episode of Sweetblood. It actually gets a 4.5 but I'm feeling generous today.

Alfonso & Lily were both introduced in the origin story as strong characters. They did not disappoint here-like any adult relationship theirs is replete with baggage and "reasons". Alfonso has finally completed his dangerous undercover assignment with the DB's but realizes it isn't quite over. Lily is overrun with emotional i...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Joan Swan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Laurie London’s EMBRACED BY BLOOD begins with immediate tension and ends with a race to the finish and all that conflict is sparked with sexual tension between the hero, Alfonso, and the heroine, Lily, throughout.

Several elements give EMBRACED BY BLOOD a freshness that often snags the interest agents and editors. While this is a vampire novel, Laure gives her hero and heroine unique twists. Alfonso and Lily are not just vampires, but Guardians to humans, protecting them against another type of v...more

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May 21, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, pararnormal-romance

When we first met Alphonso in Bonded by Blood , he was introduced as the evil brother to our hero, Dom. But before the book was over, we found out that the he was really a double agent who worked inside the Darkblood organization, feeding information to the Guardians. We also discovered that's he had been having an affair with his Guardian contact Lily, who also happened to be a good friend of Dom's.

As Embraced by Blood begins, a year has passed. Alphonso has severed his relationship with Lily,...more When we first met Alphonso in Bonded by Blood , he was introduced as the evil brother to our hero, Dom. But before the book was over, we found out that the he was really a double agent who worked inside the Darkblood organization, feeding information to the Guardians. We also discovered that's he had been having an affair with his Guardian contact Lily, who also happened to be a good friend of Dom's.

As Embraced by Blood begins, a year has passed. Alphonso has severed his relationship with Lily, although he is painfully aware that she is the love of his life. He knows that the Darkbloods will be hunting him for his betrayal and he doesn't want Lily caught in their crosshairs. Beyond that, he was badly hurt in the climax of the last book and he doesn't think he'll be able to defend her with the pervasive injury to his leg.

But now that he's learned the Darkbloods are hunting for a Guardian tracker to kidnap and convert to their cause, he puts himself back in Lily's orbit to make sure she is safe. As the book progresses, the two end up thrown together to foil the Darkbloods' latest plans to gain strength and abuse humans; while at the same time, trying to outrun the Blood Assassin that has targeted Alphonso.

It took me awhile to get into this book. Alphonso is trying to be noble and I get that. But a good deal of his misery is of his own making. He has chosen to keep the truth from her. And he isn't the only one who has suffered for it. It took a long time to get to anything that felt like progression in their relationship. Just a lot of unhappiness and regret. Of course, that does change eventually and that is where the book finds its legs. But it never really measured high on my sexual-tension-o-meter. Yes, of course, I wanted them together, but there was never a burning in my belly for it. Does that make any sense?

It was frustrating to see Dom's unwillingness to forgive his brother or believe in his goodness. And the resolution on that part of the story was a little abrupt. On the plus side, we have some well drawn secondary characters, like Jackson and Santiago; both of whom have their own books coming soon.

So the bottom line... I liked it ok. I'm pretty sure I liked the first one better, though. 3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley(less)

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Jul 14, 2011 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alfonso Serrano has done many bad things in his life, but has been trying to put all that behind him and make amends for past deeds. One action he took, under the guise of protecting someone he loved, was to break-up with Lily DeGraff. With a blood assassin on his tail, he wanted Lily as far away as possible. He's lived his life in isolation until the day he re-enters Lily's life when the assassin gets too close. Lily was heartbroken when Alfonso left her. She tried to find happiness elsewhere,...more Alfonso Serrano has done many bad things in his life, but has been trying to put all that behind him and make amends for past deeds. One action he took, under the guise of protecting someone he loved, was to break-up with Lily DeGraff. With a blood assassin on his tail, he wanted Lily as far away as possible. He's lived his life in isolation until the day he re-enters Lily's life when the assassin gets too close. Lily was heartbroken when Alfonso left her. She tried to find happiness elsewhere, but the only good thing that came of it was her daughter. The kidnapping of her new trainee brings her and Alfonso back together and the passion that never went away. Will both of them put past hurts and misunderstandings behind them to form a new life or will outside forces end their lives before they can even begin?

In this second installment in the Sweetblood series, Alfonso is back and still trying to make amends for his time as a double agent and the hurt that caused those around him. He's isolated and trying to stay one step ahead of the assassin sent after him for his betrayal of the Darkbloods who are now using modern technology to find their prey and increase their numbers. It was disheartening seeing even his own brother still harbor anger towards him over his duplicity and other Guardian's uncertainty around him. After the tortures he went through you'd think that would be enough for redemption. He's lonely though and scared that the assassin chasing him will go after his former love Lily. He misses her desperately and the peace she brought him but getting too close will endanger her. He's left no choice but to go to her when her trainee is taken instead of her for her scent-tracking abilities. He's desperate to take care of her but very much respects her abilities and strength in defending herself. He treats her as an equal which makes him very likable and what I look for in my heroes. He's a strong character even with the limp left to him after a previous fight. He hates his own weakness, but never complains. Over and over, and in subtle ways, he shows what it is to be a hero.

Lily has always been referred to by her looks and her important lineage but wants to let her scent-tracking be what she's known for. She's a strong woman who can easily take care of herself and interacts realistically with her co-workers. She's extremely likable and seeing her struggles make her very relatable. Just when she's made a name for herself her abilities unexpectedly weaken which is a blow to her self-esteem. It's the same thing Alfonso's experiencing with his knee injury and forms a connection between them. Seeing them lean on each other and draw strength from one another is very romantic and attests to the power of their relationship.

There are quite a few villains in the story and each of them are very unique and add an interesting dimension to the story. Some get what they deserve and one's story is still not resolved after turning the last page. I'm sure we'll see more from this character and he'll be causing even bigger problems. Along with the distinctive villains comes an intriguing set of heroic secondary characters who have me excited for future installments of the series. The one that stands out for me is Jackson, the surfer-boy sex machine with an abundance of humor that seems to be losing control by needing more blood and energy to stay sane. I'm worried for him at the same time as drooling over him. His story can't come soon enough!

Having not read the previous book in this series I worried that I'd feel lost. That wasn't the case at all because of a seamless introduction to the world of the Guardians and their villains and the history of these particular characters. The world Ms. London created is an exciting one with lots of action and a group of entertaining characters whose stories I look forward to reading. Fans of the vampire genre as well as those looking for heart pounding action and heart-wrenching romance will want to jump on board this exciting roller coaster of a series.(less)

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May 23, 2011 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Sweetblood series is awesome! It’s full of steamy romance, fantastic action, and has an amazing story plot centered around the Guardian Vampire agents and the Darkblood Alliance. In Bonded by Blood, I got just a glance of Alfonso Serrano and I definitely wanted more of this gorgeous bad boy, but I got my fix in Embraced by Blood. The Darkbloods discover that Alfonso has been a double agent really working with Lily for the Guardians, so now the Darkbloods has sent Rejavik an assassin after hi...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, reviewed, paranormal-romance

You can also see this review at Reflections on Reading Romance

I’m always looking for new authors who write about vampires, and it was exciting to receive a copy of Ms. London’s Embraced by Blood for review from the publisher via NetGalley. I’ve since seen the book on sale at Barnes & Noble and Walmart, and I’ve got to say the cover is a bit off-putting, which is a shame, because this is an enjoyable read. I’d hate for anyone to pass over the book because of aesthetics. Embraced by Blood is...more You can also see this review at Reflections on Reading Romance

I’m always looking for new authors who write about vampires, and it was exciting to receive a copy of Ms. London’s Embraced by Blood for review from the publisher via NetGalley. I’ve since seen the book on sale at Barnes & Noble and Walmart, and I’ve got to say the cover is a bit off-putting, which is a shame, because this is an enjoyable read. I’d hate for anyone to pass over the book because of aesthetics. Embraced by Blood is the second novel in Laurie London’s Sweetblood series, although there is also a novella, “Hidden by Blood,” between the two, and it’s currently available for free for the Kindle. Embraced by Blood features a spurned lover and a former double agent, and is a romance about redemption, one of my favorite tropes. However, while I enjoyed the characters and the story, overall it felt a little flat to me.

Alfonso Serrano was a double agent for centuries, secretly working for the vampire Guardians who protect humans while he pretended to be one of the vicious DarkBloods. In his youth Alfonso rebelled against his straight-laced Guardian Council father and ended up addicted to Sweetblood, the most addictive and prized human blood type. After overcoming his addiction, he pretended to maintain his DarkBlood inclinations in order to provide the Guardians with vital inside information. His Guardian handler was Tracker Lily DeGraff, with whom he maintained an on-again, off-again affair. At the beginning of the novel we learn that he staged his own death to escape the DarkBloods and then rejected Lily, since he knows that his Blood Assassin will be hunting him and endangering everyone he cares for. When Alfonso learns that the DarkBloods are organizing through an online role-playing game called Hollow Grave and that they are targeting Guardian Trackers, he re-enters Lily’s life to protect her and her daughter, Zoe. The heroine Lily is one of the Guardians’ most talented Trackers, able to follow individual blood scents like no other, but her abilities have been failing her lately. Lily’s been training a new Tracker and blames herself for her trainee’s abduction because her waning abilities didn’t warn her of the danger following them. Losing her tracking abilities is akin to losing her identity, and this couldn’t be a worse time for her former lover Alfonso to return. The two have to work together to find her trainee and stop the DarkBloods’ attacks on humans, all while avoiding Alfonso’s DarkBlood Assassin.

The characters of this vampire romance are what sell this book for me. I’m a sucker for a redemption story, and this one appeals on two fronts. Alfonso has labored for years in secret, trying to redeem himself for his misspent youth. Also, his rejection of Lily was an attempt to protect her from his past. His work with the Guardians against the DarkBloods more than make up for his past, and it’s clear that Lily and Alfonso’s love affair has only grown deeper through adversity.

I enjoyed the action, liked the characters, and thought the romance was at times touching and at others sizzling. So why did this fall flat for me? After I read the book the first time, my reaction was, “Meh.” So I read it a second time, because I couldn’t put my finger on why I didn’t like the book more. It wasn’t until I picked up a favorite of mine after re-reading Embraced by Blood that I figured it out. The problem is definitely the pace of the narrative. There were times when the novel just seemed to drag, especially at the beginning, when Alfonso was pondering his past and his relationship with Lily. The same happened with Lily, when she would think about her past. Whenever the characters would engage in interior monologues, the tempo of the narrative would get bogged down, which led to my mind wandering.

The book was an enjoyable read, just not an outstanding one. Despite the problems in pacing, I felt that the other aspects of the novel did work for me, so I’ll definitely give Ms. London’s other work a chance. (less)

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May 13, 2011 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2011

I did enjoy this book which is the 2nd book in the series, but it was a little more on the slow side for me. The 1st book took right off, where as this one was more slower building for me. Maybe it's because they were a couple before and are now in a situation that has them working together. Where neither one wants to "go there" again.

Alfonzo & Lily work very well together and I found myself getting a little frustrated with the two of them. There were a lot of sweet and tender moments betwe...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance, sexy, vampire

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Setting:
Bellingham Bay; Casa en las Colinas (House in the Hills);

Theme:
Love; protection; self forgiveness; enhanced powers;

Characters:

Darkblood Alliance vs Governing Council –
Darkbloods want to subjugate humans and rule the world, taking blood indiscriminately even to death of human, torture (silver, sun, sweetblood madness) vs Governing Council – to police the vampires, to eliminate the Darkbloods – with use of Guardians and Trackers.

Alfonso Serrano – old vampire; wild and rebellious in you...more

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May 12, 2011 Cleffairy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed at: Library of Lights

Date reviewed: 12 May 2011

Review link: http://mykindaland.com/?p=272

Can’t get enough of vampire romance? Well then, Embraced by Blood written by Laurie London is one vampire fiction you would not want to miss. It’s packed with not only romance, but thrilling action that will give you adrenaline rush as well as tantalizing chills.

Embraced by Blood is a very intriguing vampire story, and I found myself captivated by it. There’s sweetness in some of the scenes in this...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Paranormal romance has seemingly evolved and melded with the Urban Fantasy world in recent months, becoming more edgy and focused on creating a world, with traditional happily-ever-afters reflecting that change. Couples come together on vows of love but sometimes it just feels different. This isn't a bad thing at all. I'm all for change, but every now and then I like to be treated to an old-fashioned The End. Know what I mean? I want a glimpse at what happens next. Embraced by Blood gave me that...more Paranormal romance has seemingly evolved and melded with the Urban Fantasy world in recent months, becoming more edgy and focused on creating a world, with traditional happily-ever-afters reflecting that change. Couples come together on vows of love but sometimes it just feels different. This isn't a bad thing at all. I'm all for change, but every now and then I like to be treated to an old-fashioned The End. Know what I mean? I want a glimpse at what happens next. Embraced by Blood gave me that and more...with a truly complete and contented happily-ever-after.

Alfonso is rugged and tough, but also vulnerable. He sees himself as unworthy, when in truth he is the most loyal, most devoted, and most dedicated type of man. His feelings run deep and as you are reading its almost like you can feel the anguish of his broken heart, as well as his abiding love for Lily. And as I predicted, sparks fly between these two and the passion runs hot!!

He placed one broad hand on her hips, halting her movement. With the other hand, he pulled the back of her hair, maybe a little too roughly, he realized, when he heard her gasp.

Two tiny thrusts were all it took as he sunk his fangs into her flesh.

And the universe collided behind his eyelids.

Alfonso and Lily, along with Zoe, make a beautiful family. This book could have been titled Reborn by Blood, or Reunited by Blood, because family and the theme of belonging played such an important role, as Alfonso finds his place within two separate family units. This underlying theme was shown throughout, from the house that Alfonso was building to duplicate his parent's home, Casa en las Colinas, to the wonders of being bonded for all eternity. Each aspect demonstrates the power of belonging and what love really means. Both Dom and Alfonso are strong alpha males that are brought to their knees by equally strong women in Mackenzie and Lily. And these men are not afraid to show their emotions at all, and are willing to do whatever it takes to have the one they love...forever.

And we get Jackson's book next!!!

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Jun 13, 2011 Laurielu Book Savvy Babes rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 18 and over strong sexual content; Paranormal Romance Readers

Shelves: 2011-reads, netgalley, paranormal, romance, series, vampire

Embraced By Blood by Laurie London is a sweet vampire love story with good plot development that meshes well with the romance. Before this novel began, Alfonso Serrano was working as a double agent by joining the Darkbloods and working for the Guardians which, of course, was a highly guarded secret by the group he truly held his allegiance -- his family, friends and co-workers.

In this installment, Alfonso knows he is being pursued by a vengeful, deadly Darkblood assassin due to his past actions...more Embraced By Blood by Laurie London is a sweet vampire love story with good plot development that meshes well with the romance. Before this novel began, Alfonso Serrano was working as a double agent by joining the Darkbloods and working for the Guardians which, of course, was a highly guarded secret by the group he truly held his allegiance -- his family, friends and co-workers.

In this installment, Alfonso knows he is being pursued by a vengeful, deadly Darkblood assassin due to his past actions. He has managed to evade his enemy’s relentless pursuit and keep his love interest, Lily DeGraff, out of the assassin's cross-hairs. Lily is a smart, beautiful, sexy vampire who has the job of being the top Tracker with the Guardians.

As the plot blossoms, it becomes clear Darkbloods are seeking out Trackers to pursue special blood-typed humans known as Sweetbloods whose blood is addictive to vampires. By obtaining a tracker, it would be easier to find Sweet, potentially making the sale and disbursement of the blood more lucrative. When it is apparent Lily could be in danger, Alfonso steps back into her life to help keep her safe. Their re-union is bittersweet since both still have strong feelings for each other; but, they attempt to safeguard their true feelings from one another. However, the emotionally irresistible pull they have makes tamping down their true feeling nearly impossible.

This is the second book in the Sweetblood series; but, my first time to read this author and this series. In my honest opinion, this book read very smoothly and I did not feel like I missed out on any crucial points in the book due to not reading the first book, Bonded by Blood. I really liked the tentative friendship and love Lily and Alfonso are apparently rebuilding in this installment. The sexual tension between the two is enough to make the reader spontaneously combust. In addition, the sweetness of the love they feel for each other is truly touching.

Alfonso and Lily’s love story is a good example of how love can heal emotional wounds and make deeper in-roads into the heart once the healing starts. Their love for each other also makes it possible for Lily and Alfonso to find “home” in each others arms and hearts with a special bonus to strengthen their tie to each other. This is a wonderfully gratifying vampire love story driven by an action packed story arc that Paranormal Romance readers should not pass up.

Happy Reading from Bona Fide Reflections!!(less)

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Dec 07, 2012 Miss Reader rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-library, 2012-all-in-the-family, paranormal-romance, vampires

Source: Library.

My Thoughts: I was bored by this book. The romance hardly had a presence.

Alfonso wants to stay away from Lily since he's being followed by an assassin and doesn't want to put her in danger. Too bad the assassin didn't do much in this book and was barely a threat at all. All he did was follow Alfonso's trail and then got distracted by the party the Darkbloods were holding.

Alfonso was basically a pity party throughout the whole book. Again and again I had to read about how he did b...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Technically Embraced By Blood could act as a stand alone book. The plot revolves around Alfonso and Lily, which was set up in the first book of the series, Bound By Blood. I haven’t read the first book, but there is enough explanation sprinkled in the second book that you are able to figure out the world London has set up.

I feel not reading the first book might have prohibited me from connecting to Alfonso and Lily’s story as much as I could have. I missed a very pivotal event in their relations...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, steamy-reads, secrets-reviewed, favorites

Warning: Bonded by Blood spoiler alert!

Alfonso. Dear, tormented, dark and sexy Alfonso. I have to admit, I didn't think I would like Alfonso after the first book, Bonded by Blood. Although, the twist at the end with him being Lily's informant did surprise me. But I still wasn't sure how I felt about him by the time I put the book down.

Jump to Embraced by Blood and I immediately fell for him. With his tortured past, his broken heart and his protective instincts, he's the perfect alpha hero and I...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really like London's take on vampires. Her sweetbloods/darkbloods/guardians are welcome spin on the vampire genre. I really like the ideas that vampire's blood bond & essentially mate with humans as well as vampires. I was intrigued by Alfonso and loved Lily in Bonded by Blood. Bmbraced by Blood is their story and I just loved it. Both born vampires, unlike Dom and Mackenzie, their relationship has come together much differently but they are true soulmates.... it's a great story. I can't w...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, paranormal-romance, read-in-2011

I am fully aware that I have a soft spot for misunderstood, tortured men who try their hardest to protect their friends and family. *sigh* Alfonso totally embodies that sentence. Totally. He loves Lily but he can't put her in danger. He feels tremendous guilt for his part in the deaths of his mother and father. He's damaged, nearly broken, and it makes him irresistible.

I've really enjoyed the mythology set out in this series. I like that the vampires feed off energy and blood. I like that they h...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr

WOW - another great addition to this vamp series. Won't rehash the story but will say Alfonso is filled with guilt and remorse for his role with the Dark Blood's and he's still estranged from brother vamp Dom. You get to find out his reasoning for turning to the "Dark Side". Loved Lily in bk one, a gorgeous, kickass, sassy vamp. She's got issues of her own to deal with. She and Alfonso had a prior relationship so their story explodes pretty quick. I'm swooning here with how much Alfonso loves Li...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Esra rated it 4 of 5 stars

şimdi buraya duygularımı ifade eden bir gif eklemek isterdim ama iş yerimde photobucket yasaklanmış :X neyse

Serinin ilk kitabına nazaran daha ciddi duruşu olan bir kitaptı. Dom kıskançlıklarıyla bizi güldürmüştü , kardeşi alfonso'nun geçmişi gözönüne alındığında bu kadar zarar görmüş bir adamdan espirik şeyler normal olarak beklenmez. Yalnız beni bu tarz romanlarda rahatsız eden " onu korumak için ondan uzak durmalıyım" klişesinin yinelendiğini görüyoruz. Bir adamda çıksın hem severim hem koruru...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

I really enjoyed this one. It breaks all the stereotypes. The heroine is not only a kick-ass warrior with special talents, but she is also seen as promiscuous, and openly joking with males about sex. To complement her, the male is what I would call totally the "new alpha male". Strong and capable, but he also was a spy, a double-agent. He does not just react emotionally. He is calm and intelligent and with a great need for belonging and for a home. I don't want to break much of the end (although...more

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Embraced by Blood (Sweetblood #2)

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