Risking Eternity: A Vampire Romance Novella (Timeshifters #1)

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Risking Eternity: A Vampire Romance Novella (Timeshifters #1)

by Gwenan Haines (Goodreads Author)

3.32 of 5 stars 3.32 · rating details · 31 ratings · 12 reviews

Product Description

After a childhood spent watching her psychic mother struggle to make a living reading tarot cards in their shabby New Orleans apartment, Hayden Farrell isn't taken in by much. As far as she's concerned, the only thing extraordinary about this world is people's willingness to put their faith in things that don't exist. For the past decade she's believed...more

Kindle Edition, 100 pages

Published November 23rd 2011 by Gwenan Haines

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Mar 03, 2013 Mistress of the Dark Path rated it 3 of 5 stars

Risking Eternity begins with a vampire named Valentin standing at his hotel room window observing the police below gather around the first of a string of serial murders. He is aware of who is doing it and even knows why. They are reminiscent of the methods used by Jack the Ripper back more than a century before, which Valentin had been around for as well. He feels somewhat responsible for the deaths, which is what drives him to put an end to them. He can't let more innocent people die, but it me...more Risking Eternity begins with a vampire named Valentin standing at his hotel room window observing the police below gather around the first of a string of serial murders. He is aware of who is doing it and even knows why. They are reminiscent of the methods used by Jack the Ripper back more than a century before, which Valentin had been around for as well. He feels somewhat responsible for the deaths, which is what drives him to put an end to them. He can't let more innocent people die, but it means using one particular woman to make them stop.

That woman would be the one investigating the crime, Hayden. She has no idea he is watching her or forming a plan involving her, but does have a feeling something isn't right. She saw the telltale fang marks on the victim and the fact there is no major blood spill despite the body being drained. Hayden doesn't want to believe in the signs, because the paranormal is one area she refuses to give credence, but that means finding an alternative. Growing up with her mother taught her the supernatural is fake, but it still doesn't answer the question of how the victim was killed, if not by a vampire. She is determined to solve the crime as she has never failed to do so yet. That leads her on an investigation that will alter her life forever. Whether that is for the good or bad remains to be seen.

Some books advertise their stories as being dark paranormal romance. Many of them don't deliver on that promise, but I can tell you this one does. There is nothing soft, fluffy, or nice about this story. Every bit of it involves, blood, death, revenge, and betrayal. You will turn the pages wondering how the characters will find romance amidst it all. Perhaps they do, but not in the way you expect. This is one highly suspenseful tale that provides excellent descriptions that captivate the mind while keeping the pace moving. I was able to read it all in one sitting and felt surprise when it came to an end, the time passed so quickly.

Potential readers should keep in mind that this is a novella. The world-building provides most of what you need, but it isn't as in-depth as a full novel would be. There are a few details that could have been filled in better, including how vampires sustain themselves and how they operate in the world. You get some hints of these things, but not as much as most people might prefer. I assume the author will fill those in further in the regular size novel that will follow this one. The ending has a couple of holes in it regarding what happens with Hayden, but I don't want to give that away because it would spoil the book. What I can say is I still liked how it concluded and felt it made up for some of those holes mentioned before. The story is definitely left open for further exploration.

I do plan to read more and find out what happens next. This dark tale fit too well with what I enjoy in a paranormal series to not give the next book a chance. Plus I think the characters are rather intriguing and there is a lot more I want to learn about them. There wasn't much time to develop them in this novella, but there were enough hints into their backgrounds to peak my interest. I also noticed a few errors sprinkled throughout, but they weren't extensive and didn't bother me much. Part of the reason for that is the author's smooth writing kept the flow of the story going so I could enjoy it as it unfolded.

If you are a dark paranormal fan, you might give this one a shot. You'll find the writer's use of the Jack the Ripper story line to be one of the best versions compared to the others out there. She provides enough details to be very convincing in how a vampire could have done it. It was clear she researched it heavily. I really didn't feel that it was just another author using a tired story-line. This one was fresh and different and that made it much more intriguing than others I have seen. I was glad I gave this novella a chance and expect good things from this author in the future. She has a few things to tighten up in her writing, but has definite promise that makes it worth the time to try her books out. (less)

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Apr 29, 2012 Stephanie Dagg rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is such a good book! Risking Eternity follows cop Hayden Farrell as she begins to investigate the murder of a young prostitute whose blood-drained body is left outside a church. She’s being watched at the murder scene by a mysterious figure, whose thoughts about her we share. Is he the murderer? Certainly the murders seem personal to him, but he also appears to have some sort of tie to Hayden as well.
Hayden distrusts the supernatural. Her mother was a fake psychic who involved her in her d...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, horror, paranormal-romance, paranormal, requested, short-story, urban-fantasy, vampires

Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/01/indie-book-review-risking-eternity.html

I got a request to review this book a few weeks back and again I am so shocked that I get asked to do reviews. And even better, I come across some pretty amazing stuff and this was definitely one of them. This was a 96 page short story that was satisfying from beginning to end.

Risking Eternity follows a cop named Hayden. She is on the case of the murder of a teenage prostitute who was killed...more Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/01/indie-book-review-risking-eternity.html

I got a request to review this book a few weeks back and again I am so shocked that I get asked to do reviews. And even better, I come across some pretty amazing stuff and this was definitely one of them. This was a 96 page short story that was satisfying from beginning to end.

Risking Eternity follows a cop named Hayden. She is on the case of the murder of a teenage prostitute who was killed and left in front of a church. Thing is the girl was drained of blood and she had puncture holes in her neck. Hayden doesn’t believe in vampires (or anything supernatural because of her conning mother), but she has a feeling that is what killed the girl. Valentin needs Hayden to help him without her thinking he is the murderer of the young girls around town. She is suspicious of him, but can’t help but trust him. For some reason, they have a connection that goes beyond the physical, but they have no time to explore it because there is a serial killer on the loose and they both have an agenda.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and gave me a glimpse of everything. Now, as most short stories do, we don’t have a complete story of everyone and everything. We do get some backstory on our main characters, but not enough. I still liked them though. But as I said, I usually expect short backgrounds from short stories. The plot was interesting. Valentin offers Hayden his help and info on the killer, but he has his own plans for Hayden where the killer is concerned. I loved how Haines used some history in this book. It really added another level to the plot. I won’t spoil it, but I think you will like it. It definitely makes the villain more relatable is a weird sense. I really liked the villain; he really played quite the part near the end of the book and made things extra difficult for Valentin. The man was the very definition of cunning.

My biggest complaint was Valentin. Well not much of a complaint, but he made me a bit angry. When we learn what he wanted Hayden for, it sort of pissed me off. He has an attraction to her, but he still sort of treats her like nothing, all for the sake of revenge. But there is something more going on with him because after he accomplishes what he wants, he plans to sleep for 100 years. So something big is coming, but we don’t know what yet. I guess he had to be cold. Still, he isn’t the nicest vampire in the world (that is a weird statement). I can’t wait to read what his story is because he obviously knows something and it scares him.

Overall, this is a great start to a series. There is much more to this story, but it is a prequel. So remember, it is just getting your feet wet. It flowed well and Haines is a fantastic writer. I both love and hate how this ended. I understand because Hayden truly needs to clear things up with her mother, but I also wanted that HEA. But I know there will be more to come and I am very excited for the sequel.(less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Lady Raven RAVE! rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, novella-romance

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com for readers

BRIEF SUMMARY
Hayden is a cop in Boston, investigating a string of murders that involves prostitutes. During her investigation, she comes across a stranger, Valentin, who has been watching her since the start of the murders. Valentin has been tracking down this serial killer since London, for centuries and needs Hayden’s help. While he feels an unknown connection to Hayden, Valentin, a vampire, needs to explain his history in order to get the help h...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-request, requests, time-travel-romance, urban-fantasy

This novella took me by surprise. I really enjoyed reading it and I liked how Jack the Ripper was tied into the story. Now, from a paranormal romance reader stand point there are some issues. This reads more like an Urban Fantasy because there’s no Happy Ever After (HEA) or a Happy for now (HFN) ending. The thing is this is a trilogy so I hope to see more romance grow between these two in future books because I'm not feeling the love from these two like I’d like too. Now, I have you asking why I...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: novella, my-ebooks, books-read-in-2012, my-reviews, paranormal-romance, vampires, urban-fantasy

A dark and sinister tale of revenge and romance!

Hayden Farell is a skeptic cop who believes only in what she sees. To catch the serial killer targeting young prostitutes killed under strange circumstances, Hayden must trust a stranger, Valentin Grigorievich, who seems to know a lot more about the killer than he leads on. What Hayden doesn't know is that Valentin is a vampire who has been tracking the killer for centuries, dating back a hundred years in London, where it all started. Seeking reven...more A dark and sinister tale of revenge and romance!

Hayden Farell is a skeptic cop who believes only in what she sees. To catch the serial killer targeting young prostitutes killed under strange circumstances, Hayden must trust a stranger, Valentin Grigorievich, who seems to know a lot more about the killer than he leads on. What Hayden doesn't know is that Valentin is a vampire who has been tracking the killer for centuries, dating back a hundred years in London, where it all started. Seeking revenge for a loss suffered at the hands of the killer, Valentin joins forces with Hayden to hunt the killer down, but his plans of vengeance are questioned when he realizes the dark but pulling connection to Hayden may prove more important.

This is a thriller combined with a little bit of history and paranormal elements mixed in. The plot is quite unique and I love the blending of vampires and Jack the Ripper. While I expected a bit more romance, Risking Eternity falls more into the urban fantasy category with its dark undertones and strong suspense.

Valentin isn't the hero you fall for instantly, but his dark side and air of mystery make him extremely appealing (I love me a bad boy!). You never know who's side he's really on and it's this constant guessing that kept me intrigued. Hayden is a strong heroine who has a hard time trusting others and is dedicated to her profession. I was moved by her dedication and the way she tried her best to resist her attraction to Valentin at every turn, it made for an interesting pairing of characters. We also meet the third party in this story, the dreaded villain, who plays his part well and adds a little more action and mystery along the way.

If you're looking for a sweet and strong paranormal romance with a perfect happily ever after, you won't find it in Risking Eternity. Instead you'll find a dark paranormal romance with a gothic feel that will keep you engaged with Ms. Haines' edgy writing style. I'm usually not a fan of cliffhangers but I'll settle for one if it means more of Hayden and Valentin is to come!

{ebook courtesy of author for review}

Original Romancing the Darkside review:
http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot....

(less)

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Mar 02, 2012 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This novella is an excellent introduction to the series. It gives you just enough to tease you and wonder what the hell is going on ... That being said, I will most likely read another one to get a feel for what the books are really like.

I did like the short story that I read. It was pretty dark and suspenseful. I don't feel like I got a good grasp on the characters ... but I do look forward to reading more.

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Mar 05, 2012 Mara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mara by: Jamie

Shelves: borrowed, urban-fantasy, novella

I have no idea what the story was (really) about as it's mostly a teaser of a future series. The idea isn't that fresh (Jack the Ripper as a supe), but the plot is interesting, dark and suspenseful.

I'm not a fan of either soul mates nor reincarnation, so the love affair didn't click for me. To really judge though I have to wait the novels.

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Mar 29, 2012 Juana "Darkness" Duran rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: right-away, kidle-books-i-own

This book is cool, and hey I'm not just saying that because Vampires are my favorite monsters. Hayden is a cop and she is new to the city. While on the job Hayden is being watched by Valentin. The murder that Hayden and her police force are investigating is looking like a vampire attack. Hayden doesn't believe in the supernatural. So While walking home from a bacholarette party Valentin is watching out for her by following her and making sure his messages are getting across to her. When Valentin...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Dorsey aka Wrath Lover marked it as to-read

Shelves: freebie, kindle_own_tbr

Kindle Freebie 2.23.12

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Jan 15, 2012 Toni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cbrrc-s

Please feel free to read my review at Coffee Beans & Love Scenes Reviews.

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Sep 29, 2012 Dawn (Kat N Hat) marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: kindle, paranormal-romance, vampires, psychics, 1st-in-series

Started for a challenge, dn't finish intime and the book just wasn't holding my interest so I set it down. May pick up again.

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May 15, 2013 Daniela marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Ronda Tutt marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-kindle, paranormal-romance

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Apr 02, 2013 Angela marked it as 1-click-freebie

Shelves: romance, paranormal

Feb 28, 2013 Danu the GODS of Writing added it

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Jan 26, 2013 Andrea marked it as not-interested

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Jan 05, 2013 Alison marked it as owned-but-unread

Jan 04, 2013 Mesorain marked it as must-have

Jan 01, 2013 Tiffany~are there TWINS in it? marked it as to-read

Dec 30, 2012 Linda marked it as to-read

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Shelves: kindlefreebie2012, kindlefreebietbr2012

Dec 13, 2012 Selene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

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About Gwenan Haines

Gwenan Haines writes paranormal fiction, urban fantasy and romantic suspense. She loves to hear from readers and to befriend fellow paranormal junkies on Facebook.

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Risking Eternity: A Vampire Romance Novella (Timeshifters #1)

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