Redemption (Penton Legacy, #1)

Oct 23, 2012 ♠ Sharon is an emotional book junkie ♠ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Krystal Harris is given an amazing opportunity to work in a rural community as a doctor and pay off her student loans. Upon arriving in town for her interview, she has to put her skills to use when one of the town people has been attacked. Aidan, the "mayor" of the town and master vampire has to enthrall Krystal to stay until he can convince her otherwise.

Well, this was certainly a pleasant surprise. I had not heard of this series but was intrigued by the premise and of course, I love vampire b...more Krystal Harris is given an amazing opportunity to work in a rural community as a doctor and pay off her student loans. Upon arriving in town for her interview, she has to put her skills to use when one of the town people has been attacked. Aidan, the "mayor" of the town and master vampire has to enthrall Krystal to stay until he can convince her otherwise.

Well, this was certainly a pleasant surprise. I had not heard of this series but was intrigued by the premise and of course, I love vampire books but I wasn't prepared for liking it as much as I did. I would even go so far as to say it's ~ almost ~ but not quite up to the par as some of the heavy hitter series.

The premise is that a vaccine for humans that was used against a pandemic has caused their blood to be poisonous to vampires. There are not too many humans that are unvaccinated and this has lead to vampires starving and fighting over them. I thought this was a great spin on a vampire story and I loved that Aidan just wanted to make a place where humans and vampires could live together in peace.

Krystal was almost a bit too accepting of everything...too accepting of the vampires, too accepting of her attraction of Aidan and too accepting of something that happens at the end. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but I wish she would've fought things a bit more.

Aidan was great...hunky, brooding, Irish vampire that wants to protect everyone, feels guilty about some things in his past and feel unworthy but doesn't want to hurt the human he falls for. What more could you want?

Ahhh...how about a bad guy that just happens to be his brother? I had high hopes for Owen but he is really bad. I enjoyed their brotherly "love" but I felt the drama went back and forth too much and dragged on for too long.

There are a lot of great vampires in the scathe namely Aidan's lieutenants; Mirren, Lucy, Will and Hannah. Mirren's story is next and it should be very angsty. Lucy's story will be a hard one as well but I love that we might have a female vampire lead. Will's story will be complicated. And Hannah...well, she's a whole other story but you'll have to read this to find out.

All in all, a really enjoyable vampire story with a twist and some really good romantic and steamy scenes. Can't wait for the next one!

Favorite quote:

♥ "You shine like the sunlight," he said softly. "Don't ever doubt how beautiful you are."
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Jun 10, 2012 Virginia Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, romance, suspense, thriller

Susannah Sandlin has put her own spin on the allure of the vampire, creating a new mythology which is most intriguing with her "The Penton Legacy" series. Penton, Alabama, a small, off-the-radar town, is the setting for "Redemption". At first, Penton would seem an unlikely choice for a master vampire to set down roots. However, it is perfect for the needs of centuries-old Aidan Murphy, who seeks haven and sustenance in a world where most human blood is now poisonous to vampires. Only humans who...more Susannah Sandlin has put her own spin on the allure of the vampire, creating a new mythology which is most intriguing with her "The Penton Legacy" series. Penton, Alabama, a small, off-the-radar town, is the setting for "Redemption". At first, Penton would seem an unlikely choice for a master vampire to set down roots. However, it is perfect for the needs of centuries-old Aidan Murphy, who seeks haven and sustenance in a world where most human blood is now poisonous to vampires. Only humans who did not receive the vaccine for a world-devastating pandemic can now provide blood to feed vampires. Aidan carefully selects providers to sustain his vampire community, and he strives to maintain peace between the living and the undead. The successful coexistence is imperiled by the arrival of Aidan's vengeful brother, Owen, who is bent on destroying Aidan and the world he has so carefully crafted. Doctor Krystal Harris comes to Penton, hopeful of beginning a career and a new life. Krys is unaware that she was deliberately offered an "interview" to become the new town doctor due to her pure, unvaccinated blood. Immediately upon arriving in Penton, she is met by Aidan Murphy, who sequesters her to prevent her from leaving. He uses his power to enthrall her mind, but she does not react in the normal manner, and she soon captivates her captor. Aidan lost his wife and child eons ago in ancient Ireland, and he has never let his heart love again. Krystal suffered for many years from the abuse of her father and the indifference of her mother. Becoming a doctor was a way for Krys to break away and make her own way in the world. Aidan and Krys become caught up in a web of need and codependency, sexual desire, and a burgeoning love. Aidan is not really a hero, he is a complex and brooding character, but who would want to read about a vampire who was not intense? Having said that, it's so much more attractive for that vampire to have one soft spot--his love for a very special woman! I love it when vampires, “immortal undead”, can be brought to their knees by innocence. Fatally pure innocence. Love--as the sharpest, strongest stake to the heart. Paranormal romance takes love beyond yearning and turns it into craving. It's really quite amazing how soulful the undead can be, especially when the HEA is not guaranteed. There are two more books to come in this series, "ABSOLUTION", and then "OMEGA".

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Aug 16, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-f-romance, paranormal, medical, vampire, own

I give it a 4.5

I’m a big fan of vampire novels, so I read a lot of them. I have to admit that when I read the blurb for Redemption I was pleasantly surprised. The basics of what makes a vampire is unchanged, but Ms. Sandlin has come up with a premise for the backbone of the story that is totally unique and contemporary. I mean the idea that the vaccine for a worldwide pandemic would make human blood poisonous to the vampire population is inspired. It definitely leaves the unvaccinated minority i...more I give it a 4.5

I’m a big fan of vampire novels, so I read a lot of them. I have to admit that when I read the blurb for Redemption I was pleasantly surprised. The basics of what makes a vampire is unchanged, but Ms. Sandlin has come up with a premise for the backbone of the story that is totally unique and contemporary. I mean the idea that the vaccine for a worldwide pandemic would make human blood poisonous to the vampire population is inspired. It definitely leaves the unvaccinated minority in a precarious position as dinner to the starving. It’s an interesting twist for the vampires to no longer be at the top of the food chain. I never imagined a world where they might actually be an endangered species. What an interesting concept.

I like Aiden’s dream of vampires and humans living together, and it’s the catalyst for everything that happens—what gives the story so much depth, hope and causes so much danger. I really enjoyed the well constructed world building. It made the town of Penton, its people, and the adversary they’re fighting come to life as the vampire world spirals out of control, with trouble coming at Aiden and his people from multiple fronts. That means a complicated plot that kept me guessing at what was going to happen next. Good going, Ms. Sandlin.

Ms. Sandlin did a nice job with the development of the personalities of the main characters, giving us a good look into the personal lives. In some way’s Aiden’s still the farmer he was when he was turned— loyal, protective and determined to do the right thing. Yes, he is a little whiny and broody at time, but then no one’s perfect. Krystal is wounded and spends half of the book fighting against what she wants and that puts her into a too-stupid-to-live moment. I admit it. I don’t like them. Kry is a smart woman and I think she could have ended up in the same situation without her looking like a silly characters from a B movie. I wish that moment had been different. She and Aiden have great chemistry and even if they did take a little time to get together it’s understandable—he did kidnap her. Be aware that the sex scenes aren’t as graphic here as in some paranormal romances but they still convey nicely the simmering emotions of them both.

Now for the secondary’s. Several of them are truly fascinating and added a great deal to the overall depth of the plot. There’s Hannah, the child vampire, who has psychic powers, Lucy the emotionally wounded vampire who made bad choices, and Mirren who is known as The Slayer. He’s a fierce fighter and I can’t wait to learn more about him, so the release of Absolution can’t come fast enough. Look for in it October. And Will. I don’t really know enough about him to satisfy my curiosity but I’m hoping he gets a book in the future.

So, if you can’t tell by now, I liked the book. It’s an entertaining read and the series has the potential of only getting better as it continues, since the basics of the world are now firmly in place. Oh, and I think I’ve forgotten to mention the series name. It’s Penton Legacy. Ms. Sandlin is a new author for me and she’s exceeded my expectations. There are a few dangling threads but that’s to be expected with series with a ongoing plotline, so look for some of those to be dealt with in the next book. If you enjoy vampire books, give this one a try.

I made up a word search with some of the words I found scattered throughout the pages of Redemption. Some are names, others are places or even things. If you enjoy puzzles, you might give this one a try. You can find it on my blog at http://gaylesbooknook.blogspot.com/20...(less)

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Oct 15, 2012 Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: any True Blood Fans

Recommended to Michelle's by: Read for Book Tour

Shelves: owned-e-books, favorites

I really loved this book. It was a great introduction for a great new series. I loved the different world these vampires live it. True Blood fans will for sure love this series.
I really liked Aiden, he is swoon worthy for sure. And Dr. Krystal Harris I really liked alot, I was able to connect with her and felt part of this world right along with her.

The writing is top notch, and have no complaints on that at all. Its a great idea that Susannah had for this series, and will enjoy reading the res...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Samantha Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Redemption was a very fascinating read. The author did a fantastic job creating a world where the human race is faced with a pandemic. A vaccine is created to treat the pandemic and the crisis is averted, for humans at least, vampires aren’t so lucky. The vaccine changed the blood of any human that received the vaccination, making it poisonous to any vampire that drinks it. Now the vampire world is thrown into chaos. Their food supply is now very limited and the few humans that weren’t vaccinate...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Victoria Limbert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, dark-brooding-male, erotic, fave-author, great-characters, love, reviewed, romance, supernatural, vampires, will-read-again, giveaway, paranormal

I read this book on one sitting. I seriously could not put it down! The characters came to life off the pages and I watched this story play out behind my eyes. This definately takes the place of Twilight in my affections and Sandlin has quickly become one of my favourite authors, ranking high with those I idolise such as Laurell.K.Hamilton.

I recieved Redemption through a giveaway contest I entered and I am so glad I did! I have the second to delve in to and believe it will be just as good as thi...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Mary Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm

A world wherein vampires need humans more than ever. A pandemic has affected human blood that can cause major and threatening results to any vampire who feeds from them. This has caused a shake from the vampire community as the source for food becomes scarce. What would you do if you can create a place to co-mingle with humans who are unvaccinated and clean? This was what Aiden did and he succeeded - but with the success of his plan comes danger to every...more Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm

A world wherein vampires need humans more than ever. A pandemic has affected human blood that can cause major and threatening results to any vampire who feeds from them. This has caused a shake from the vampire community as the source for food becomes scarce. What would you do if you can create a place to co-mingle with humans who are unvaccinated and clean? This was what Aiden did and he succeeded - but with the success of his plan comes danger to everyone that he cares for.

Aidan Murphy is a vampire with noble cause. He wanted to have a community that can let vampire and humans live together in a practical yet harmonious way. Nobody lives in Penton without his approval and everybody knows what they are signing for. The setup is perfect yet the Tribunal doesn't see it that way. Penton and Aidan is a threat and one man in particular, Mathias, would do everything to break the bond in Aidan's community.

From the start this was a straight cut story. Aidan creates a community so productive and harmonious is becomes a threat, followed by a murderous plan out of revenge and smite and ends with something you wouldn't expect. This is the first in the series. Like every introductory, Redemption is informative and light BUT not boring. You'll read a decent amount of background history yet you know there's still more and will be explored in the following books. In this particular story we get to know the main backbone of the world Sandlin created. Focused on the interaction and introduction between major characters namely Aidan, Mitten, Will and Hannah are the vampires in this lot. They are the major players in the scathe (family/group). Aidan being the leader and Mitten the second hand. Hannah is the child and baby of the group but a girl not to be underestimated whereas Will is the brains and the spunk of them all. We'll also read glimpse of who they are up against and as to why they (Penton Community) is perceived as a threat. Although we wouldn't read a great deal about the Tribunal, we know that the group will be major players in the following installments.

The idea behind the plot is intriguing and something that I really would love to read. I have read a dozen variation to the vampire story and there were hits and misses among the numerous written vampire pool. Vampires are just plain awesome and what authors do just amazed me story after story. Redemption became an easy favorite for 2013. What Sandlin did to her vampires were just incredible. They were hardass yet you know they have a bit of humanity left. We all know these types of vampires right? The story progression was never slow or boring. From the moment that Owen came to Preston everything was set in motion. Redemption is a great intro to a series that I personally would read through and get excited about. Nothing was overdone or I didn't feel like the author needed to impress me with unnecessary fluffing and side plots. I am interested to follow as to how Sandlin will continue the story because the last few chapters were definitely not what I have expected.(less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Amanda rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I couldn't finish this book. All it was was a troubled, lovestruck young doctor and a vampire struggling to control his constant hard-on whenever she's around. I mean come on, from the very first time they meet it's love at first sight, and for no reason other than that they're both apparently unbelievably attractive. From what I read, there was very little vampire action, just inexplicable love. The vampire lost his wife and was devastated and stayed away from relationships, yet Krystal has him...more

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Jan 21, 2013 VampireRomanceBooks ThatsErotica rated it 5 of 5 stars

With a leg firmly on both sides of the Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy fence, Susannah Sandlin has created a fascinating world on the verge of a vampire apocalypse. The vampires are hungry. A recent plague has resulted in humans being vaccinated with a substance that makes their blood poisonous to vampires. Visionary Aidan Murphy has created a community, in rural Alabama of all places, where unvaccinated humans and the vampires they are bonded to can live together peaceably. This is a major cha...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adults

(3.5 stars) With an overwhelming sea of vampire novels flooding the market,"Redemption" is an interesting take on the myth. It seems that a sickness has overtaken the people of the world and so in an attempt to eliminate it, most people are vaccinated. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of the vaccination is vampires are deadly allergic to the vaccine and are virtually starving. Their only food source is now people who have not been vaccinated and they are few and far in between.

Aiden Murphy...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, paranormal-romance

Susannah Sandlin is a pen name for Suzanne Johnson, which had me all kinds of excited because I loved her urban fantasy debut, ROYAL STREET. In REDEMPTION, she offers readers something a little different, as she shifts gears to paranormal romance with a focus on vampires, which keeps all of the positives of her other writing while upping the sexy.

First and foremost, I love the setting of REDEMPTION. Vampires are still underground and their very existence is threatened by a vaccination that cause...more Susannah Sandlin is a pen name for Suzanne Johnson, which had me all kinds of excited because I loved her urban fantasy debut, ROYAL STREET. In REDEMPTION, she offers readers something a little different, as she shifts gears to paranormal romance with a focus on vampires, which keeps all of the positives of her other writing while upping the sexy.

First and foremost, I love the setting of REDEMPTION. Vampires are still underground and their very existence is threatened by a vaccination that caused minute changes in people who received it, making their blood poisonous to vampires. Aidan Murphy has started a small colony in Penton, Alabama, where vampires and unvaccinated humans live in harmony, a completely new idea in this world. The humans are all bonded to vampires, who are all bonded to Aidan, and everyone is carefully screened, creating a very Eden-like atmosphere, except for the dangers from the outside. This sort of post-apocalyptic setting (even though it's not an apocalypse for the human population) reminds me a lot of the town in I Am Legend (the movie) or the Epitaph episodes of Dollhouse (or any number of doomed-society-looking-for-a-haven movies/shows/ books), which I always enjoy. Of course, not everyone supports this endeavour, and some fear Aidan because of his revolutionary ideas and the number of vampires in his scathe, which is what brings Aidan's brother Owen into the picture, as he menaces residents trying to undo Aidan's work. As part of his attack, he's killed the town's doctor, which is why Krystal Harris enters the picture.

Of the two main characters, Krys is definitely my favourite. She's got such a dynamic personality! She comes from an abusive family but that wasn't the main focus of her character, which was refreshing. Instead, she finds humour where others might not, is excellent at her job, and actually considers the idea of Stockholm Syndrome when she starts falling for Aidan, which was great because it's something I wonder about -- after all, how many heroines start falling for their captors without questioning it? In contrast, I wasn't all that into Aidan, though he did grow on me over the course of the novel as we learned more about his motivations and back story. Despite being quite old, he's still rather human. He fidgets, he's fallible, and he broods. In fact, the same can be said for a lot of the vampires in this book -- many of them retain a lot of human characteristics and aren't the sort of super still, inhuman vampires you see in other stories. (There are a couple like that but all of the main folks are much more relatable.) My favourite characters in the novel are probably Hannah, one of the members of Aidan's scathe, and Melissa, Aidan's human familiar.

The writing in REDEMPTION is also top-notch. The action is well choreographed and each of the main characters has a very clear voice when the story's being told from their point of view. There's also some nice humour in the story, like the quotation below, which really made me chuckle. I love a bit of dry wit. =)

He [Aidan] took a quick shower and dressed in a pair of black wool pants and a pale blue cashmere sweater he’d never have picked for himself―he didn’t much care what he wore, so he let Melissa shop for him. He wasn’t sure exactly what she meant by calling him a “vampire Ken doll,” but it had to be bad because it amused her so much.

REDEMPTION is the first book in the Penton Legacy series and I'm excited to see what happens for the other characters in this world. The author has done a marvellous job of setting up the series arc and creating characters you'll root for and I can't wait to see what will happen next to/for Penton's residents. REDEMPTION is a wonderful paranormal romance that is sure to delight fans of the genre.

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Sep 30, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kristie

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Thrilling and well-written paranormal romance set in a dark and mysterious world where vampires struggle for blood.

Opening Sentence: Matthias Ludlam watched the smoke drift toward his study ceiling, fumes from burning photo chemicals stinging his eyes.

The Review:

After reading the synopsis to Redemption, I knew I had to read this novel. Vampires on the brink of starvation and a town set up as a safe haven for vampires and their unvaccinated h...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Galena rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, urban-paranormal, vampires-and-stuff

This book had a very interesting premise. Following inoculation to swine flu or some such global pandemic, human blood is now poisonous to vampires (who are NOT revealed to the public like in True Blood), so they have to try to find non-inoculated humans to feed from. The town of Penton is a safe haven for both non-inoculated humans and the vampires they are bonded to--everyone in this tiny town knows of vampires and live there specifically to be safe and create a community. Of course, they come...more

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Jul 17, 2012 J.A. Howell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I found it interesting, pretty well written and definitely found most of the cast very likeable. I was initially intrigued by the plot of their being a food shortage for the vampire world due to a vaccine that made a vaccinated human’s blood poison. Personally it reminded me a little of Daybreakers and I rather enjoyed that movie (though the difference there was humans were literally going extinct).

Sometimes when you are trying to take on a tried and true subj...more Overall I really enjoyed this book. I found it interesting, pretty well written and definitely found most of the cast very likeable. I was initially intrigued by the plot of their being a food shortage for the vampire world due to a vaccine that made a vaccinated human’s blood poison. Personally it reminded me a little of Daybreakers and I rather enjoyed that movie (though the difference there was humans were literally going extinct).

Sometimes when you are trying to take on a tried and true subject matter it can be difficult and daunting to turn it into something unique. The story starts at the beginning of what could become a vampire civil war. Some are choosing to evolve in order to survive. For example, the member’s of Aiden Murphy’s community Penton, and not all are happy with how they choose to live in peace with humans that provide them sustenance. Those that are not happy with it are attempting to bring his scathe down, they feel Aiden has become too powerful. They hire his own brother, Owen Murphy to do the dirty work.

Amidst Owen’s attempts to send a message to Aiden, the town doctor is murdered, and to care for their familiars (the humans that let them feed) the need to find a new doctor asap.

Enter Krys Harris. A doctor looking to escape to a small town and be her own boss. She obviously gets more than she bargained for when she comes to Penton to interview with Aiden Murphy. Krys I found very likeable and at times downright funny, my only beef with her was I just wish she had a little more self confidence as a heroine. Most us women can relate to not feeling beautiful, but at times I felt like she took it overboard. With her abusive background, I do understand it though and like I said, things like her humor and at times her bravery make her a relatable and fun character. I hope to see her continue to grow in the future books of Susannah’s series.

Other noteable characters I really enjoyed meeting were Mirren, a tank of a vampire and Aiden’s right hand man, as well as Hannah, a child-turned vampire with powerful psychic abilities. And these two together are especialy amusing given how much Mirren is afraid of her.

Amidst the threats of violence to their community by Owen, Aiden and Krys find themselves very attracted to each other like moths to a flame (even that is an understatement). I do have to warn you the heat index does rise a bit more than most books I read. Some scenes are downright delicious and naughty. At times though I found myself giggling at the fact that Aiden seems to become aroused instantaneously almost anytime Krys is within a 10 foot radius or whenever she laughs.I attempted to imitate her laugh, but did not have the same desired effects on my husband.

But I digress. I definitely feel that Redemption is worth a read, and I look forward to the next two books in the series that are coming out later this year. Susannah has a great voice in her writing and not only weaves a great scene, good characters and plot, but many times she got quite a few laughs out of me.(less)

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Jul 04, 2012 Marissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh my! This was really beyond wonderful. I'm not sure what I expected when I first read the Prologue, but then bam the first chapter really grabbed me, and I was basically hooked for the rest of the story. The concept; the thought of there being a worldwide pandemic, where some humans took a vaccination that left their blood dangerous to vampires was intriguing to me. The setting, Penton, Alabama, was interesting to visualize, as it's described to be a small town filled with humans and a scathe...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Michel Reinhard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow.... I have been yearning for a good vampire series. The wait between J R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lara Adrian's Midnight Breeds, and Lynn Veihl's Darkyn books seems like forever. Luckily I stumbled onto Susannah Sandlin's Penton Vampire Legacy series. This series is fantastic. Susannah Sandlin writes her own twist to the vampire world. Her vampire world revolves around the peaceful community in Penton, Al. The town revolves around vampires and humans trying to create the perfect comm...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's bad times for the vampires. Humans went through a pandemic and now they are all pretty much vaccinated against it. Unfortunately all vaccinated humans are "poisonous" to the vamps.

Aidan has created his own little town of a mix of about 50 UN-vaccinated humans and vamps. They exist peacefully, with the humans feeding the vamps willingly, with respect on both sides.

The Vampire Tribunal is leery of this arrangement because they are jealous that Aidan has found a way not to starve to death li...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Annie Slasher (Booked & Loaded) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Redemption captured me from the very first page and never let me go. First off I want to say that the above discription is extremely accurate and I really cannot ad much to it. So I will get right to the point – I freakin’ loved this book. This was a keep-you-up-all-night and can-not-put-down kind of book. I enjoyed the diversity in characters as well as the relationships between each of them. The world building was clear and defined and felt I fully understood the reality that Susannah Sandlin...more Redemption captured me from the very first page and never let me go. First off I want to say that the above discription is extremely accurate and I really cannot ad much to it. So I will get right to the point – I freakin’ loved this book. This was a keep-you-up-all-night and can-not-put-down kind of book. I enjoyed the diversity in characters as well as the relationships between each of them. The world building was clear and defined and felt I fully understood the reality that Susannah Sandlin built in Penton, Alabama. The character descriptions are beautifully written:

“He’d pulled his dark hair into a short ponytail except for one wavy strand that had pulled loose and blew against his cheek. The streetlight cast enough illumination for her to see the dark lashes fringing blue eyes that reminded her not so much of summer skies or robin’s eggs but the richness of an arctic sea flowing over darker depths. They appeared to lighten as he studied her with an intensity that almost robbed her lungs of air. he had a strong jaw, full lips, and a slight cleft in his chin. If he was a serial killer, he was at least a pretty one.”
*swoon*

After such steamy descriptions and serious tones typically Krys’ internal dialog kicks in to something humorous and light.

“He cleared his throught. “Are you Dr. Harris?”

“Krys caught her breath. Good Lord, what was wrong with her? She’d been practically drooling through a half-open window as though he were Adonis personified. he could be Charles Manson’s separated-at-birth, unidentical twin.”

The chemistry felt natural and not too in your face and overly mushy. It flowed with the story and the situation and came together nicely in the end.

Also – addiction – this has been an ongoing topic with me.. why do SO many authors leave this bit of reality out of their stories? I have a theory to this, but that is a topic best left to its own post. Susannah Sandlin created a town where some of the residents are recovered addicts and are trusted and productive members of their town. This was a comfortable and believable fit to this world and I enjoyed the depth that it added.

Overall this was a completely enjoyable read. It had romance, action, and diverse characters and I enjoyed every page!(less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Noelle Blakely rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-reviews

4.5 of 5 Stars

Aidan is dark, handsome and brooding, everything a Master Vampire should be. Krys is a survivor. She’s beautiful but doesn’t really own it. She and Aidan both struggle with their respective pasts and family issues. Of course, they truly belong together.

I love that Ms. Sandlin has given them an almost supernatural desire for each other, something out of their control and nearly overwhelming. It is a wonderfully romantic touch to think that they are fated to be together, that they we...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Pat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, always-worth-re-reading, my-best-reads-during-2013, favorites, naughty-bits, paranormal, romance, series, series-r-us, urban-fantasy

Really 4.5stars and really an e-book edition
Katya - you always have the best toys and know my reading tastes so well!

This gem centers around the efforts of Master Vampire Aidan Murphy trying to keep his family and himself alive in the face of a global pandemic which has the ability to kill the vampires. To make matters more interesting some of the vamps on the ruling tribunal are feeding his enemy just the right weapons to keep our intrepid hero off-balance, and of course Dr. Krys Harris is adde...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

An enjoyable read. The story moved along at a good pace and kept my interest throughout. I like the premise- a vaccine given to humans has the side effect of making their blood toxic to vampires. This caused vampires to seek out unvaccinated humans to feed from or starve. A vampire (Aidan) basically founded a small town filled with some other vampires and unvaccinated humans for them to feed from. They had a reciprocal relationship- the vampires get untainted blood to sustain them and the humans...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, vampires, paranormal-romance, kindle-owner-lending-library

The main reason this book gets three stars is the fact that I really enjoyed the concept. It's set in a world where vampires exist, but are a somewhat extinct species. The reason is a vaccine almost every human was treated with in reaction to a pandemic. This vaccine caused a change in the human body and makes their blood toxic to vampires. Now they're slowly starving.
We mostly see a little village named Penton, where Aiden is the vampire boss of other vampires and humans that were never vaccina...more

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May 13, 2013 Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron (Mira, Crixus, Gannicus & Spartacus) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, tower-team-2013-cerulean-hobbit-blu, urban-fantasy, challenge-factory-2013, romance, vampires, audiobook

i like this book as it reminded me of Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardian series. Similar style.
Definitely a series I will continue next month.

This book featured a moody master Vampire named Aiden Murphy. He moved to Pentonville, AL with a small group of vampires and bonded humans (called their family "Fam") so they can be their own small autonomous community.
They chose to be separate because the humans invented a vaccine for vampirism, and if a vampire bites a vaccinated human, that vampire gets...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Gaele rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bts-reads, review-reads

In the opener that introduces the vampire scathe of Penton to the reader, Susannah Sandlin has created a unique premise that provides social good for the human world while providing the vampires a source of untainted and willing blood donors. With a mix of solid world-building, a talent for creating word pictures with descriptions and characters that are well defined with points of view that mix personality with humor and quirks and give them voice, this story will engage and entertain from the...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, 2012

Krystal is heading into Penton for a job interview. Sure she's a little perturbed by the late night interview request but a job is a job after all. And the fact that in Penton she could be her own boss? Well that just seals the deal. However, when she rolls into Penton her skills are put to the test when she comes across Aiden, her potential employer with a man who was attacked and in dire need of medical assistance. When she proves her skills to Aiden, he is all too quick to hire but then she f...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Jaycee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love a new "find" and this series promises to fill that description quite nicely.

While not a startlingly new premise, there are enough fresh elements in the introduction to this world Ms. Sandalin would have us (temporarily) inhabit along-side her "experimental" Penton , AB vampire family, to firmly insert the hook. So the otherwise abrupt ending of this book is to be forgiven as it is clear very quickly, that not only is Aiden and Krys' story not over, there is a wealth of family secrets from...more I love a new "find" and this series promises to fill that description quite nicely.

While not a startlingly new premise, there are enough fresh elements in the introduction to this world Ms. Sandalin would have us (temporarily) inhabit along-side her "experimental" Penton , AB vampire family, to firmly insert the hook. So the otherwise abrupt ending of this book is to be forgiven as it is clear very quickly, that not only is Aiden and Krys' story not over, there is a wealth of family secrets from other equally interesting, and possibly deeper characters, forthcoming in subsequent books.

Meantime, Aiden is a believable Leader with an idea for an alternative life and lifestyle for his rather rag-tag family of vampires and humans. Rather than coming across as a woe-is-me character, which is the danger in this scenario, his decisions and the burden of them, requires little effort to invest in. His requisite vampire "hotness" is appropriately evident without having to dominate the story.

Krys, while very skill intensive for a doctor who literally just finished a Residency level training, is a good foil for Aiden's character. If there was a blip in the fabric of this tale for me, it might be with the speed of her acceptance of her situation in the Penton regime. Her attraction to Aiden notwithstanding, I felt she went from a confused and under-informed captive to a willing-to-mate devotee. On the other hand, the events which forced the change were rather drastic, so I may be a bit harsh in that impression. She is gutsy, and no-nonsense about what needs to be done. Which is excellent. Wimpy, simpering chicks caving to the big, bad vamp don't do it for me...

The climactic event of the story, while not new either, is fitting for this book as well as the continuation of the series. It opens new doors for some key characters, and solidifies the places of others within the family unit. So instead of feeling like the previously mentioned rush-ending, its a "To Be Continued Next Week", and of course I had to go out and buy book two.

Quite a change from my usual reading material, and I hear change is good... (less)

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Oct 07, 2012 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fav-adult-par-rom-series

This has quickly become one of my favourite new Paranormal Romance series!! It is right up there with J.R. Ward’s BDB novels!! I loved this book from start to finish! Susannah Sandlin is a fabulous writer and I was lost in her words from the very beginning! She has written an intriguing plot, kept it action packed and gave me plenty of romance to read about too!!

Krystal has lead a troubled life, but turned it all around to attend medical school to become a doctor. I liked her immediately as she...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 rating
I love sexy, tough, complex and noble vampires and Redemption satisfied my craving. I was immediately drawn into the world Sandlin created. I consumed this in a few hours and cannot wait for the next installment. Intense characters, fantastic world building and a unique plot make this the perfect start to a promising new series.

In the tiny town of Penton all is not as it seems. After a vaccine renders human blood fatal to vampires, Aidan Murphy has built a small tight knit community in...more 4.5 rating
I love sexy, tough, complex and noble vampires and Redemption satisfied my craving. I was immediately drawn into the world Sandlin created. I consumed this in a few hours and cannot wait for the next installment. Intense characters, fantastic world building and a unique plot make this the perfect start to a promising new series.

In the tiny town of Penton all is not as it seems. After a vaccine renders human blood fatal to vampires, Aidan Murphy has built a small tight knit community in rural Alabama. Here vampires and unvaccinated humans live side by side. If successful his community may be the answer for his race. After the loss of their doctor he searches and finds Dr. Krystal Harris. When things go wrong the night of her interview, Aidan is forced to hold Krystal hostage. The tale that unfolds is riveting and perfectly paced as Aidan works to save his town from a threat and deal with the beautiful and captivating doctor.

The characters were well developed and I connected with each of them. I found Aiden to be complex and a totally smexy vampire. He is a born leader, and protector. He carries the burden of this town and its people on his shoulders. He cares about his community and makes it a point to know both the humans and vampires. To him they are his family and bonded to him by blood. Aiden has a painful history and has closed himself off. When he enters a room his presence consumes the room and others look to him for guidence. Beneath this exterior is a passionate, sensitive man and I loved discovering the many sides of him. Dr. Krystal is smart, compassionate and flawed. She is also curious and her need to know, geeky side, lands her in trouble. Watching the two of them interact was funny, sweet and smoking hot. The relationship grew slowly and I liked that. Members of the community added to the tale and had substance. Hannah was one of my favorites. She is a vampire with physic abilities and her back story was interesting. Of course there are evil characters and unknown players who add to the suspense.

The world building is solid and I liked Sandlin’s twist. While she has not changed much about vampires, the back story and vaccination twist were believable and refreshingly original. The utopia Aidan is trying to create was interesting and the perfect setting for endless plot lines. I love small town series, where you get to know everyone and Penton appealed to me. The plot, character development and flow was wonderful. I quickly became invested in the characters and the tales outcome. Sandlin has a gift for weaving a suspenseful plot with fleshed out characters. This appears to be a series where each can be read as a standalone and focuses on one couple.

Redemption is a must read for fans of suspenseful paranormal romances, and vampires. Fans of the Sweetblood and Night Huntress series will eat this up. The next two books in the series are due out later this year and this reader cannot wait. The titles are Absolution which releases October 9 and Omega due out December 18.

I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
*Sandlin is a pen name for Suzanne Johnson author of the urban fantasy Royal Street, which rocked my face off.
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Melliane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was pretty curious to start this book, indeed, I knew the author by her auther series and I really loved the first novel. When I had the opportunity to read the first book of this new saga, I quickly got into it. I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis that seemed to feature something I’ve never read before.

The vaccine used on humans during the pandemic had turned upside down the whole lives of the vampires. Indeed, each person who has taken the medici...more Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was pretty curious to start this book, indeed, I knew the author by her auther series and I really loved the first novel. When I had the opportunity to read the first book of this new saga, I quickly got into it. I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis that seemed to feature something I’ve never read before.

The vaccine used on humans during the pandemic had turned upside down the whole lives of the vampires. Indeed, each person who has taken the medicine has a poisonous blood now for our bloodsuckers. In this context, Aidan Murphy bought a city where he lives quietly, him some other vampires and uninfected humans. Everything was going well until one day the Aidan’s brother, Owen, is saved from death against a small service, killing his brother and destroying the city he built. All this is happening at the same time as a young woman, Krystal Harris comes to town to be interviewed to obtain a job in the hospital of the town. She is however far from suspecting that this work will change her life forever. She certainly doesn’t expect to arrive in a vampires town and especially to be sequestered there by Aidan so she can help to treat all victims of the attacks by his dear brother. But more than that, things get complicated when Krys and Aidan start to feel an intense attraction towards each other.

I loved all the characters. Aidan, this man who tries to be the master on board, to make the decisions, even if they are far from simple. This vampire knows what he wants and is willing to do anything to keep his city and to protect the people who live there. Krys looks like him in many ways. She is not the naïve young woman to whom we might expect; rather she is also very stubborn and determined in every situation. She doesn’t let anything go down, and even if she doesn’t know how others will react, she doesn’t hesitate to tell the truth. I loved her character, she is far from being submissive and has a very strong personality that we can only like. Well, She didn’t have an paceful life until now...

I enjoyed this novel, a new great paranormal romance saga. We are intrigued from the start of all the events and it is far from over. the book introduces us many characters and I really look forward to learn more about them, including about Mirren as we have enough information for wanting more. The writing style is fluid and the novel has a good rhythm, I am now curious to learn more and to discover a new couple in the second volume of the series.
(less)

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Jul 09, 2012 Buffy Armstrong rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read

Unique vampire tale, great romance, a must read. Will write a real review later.

2 likes · like · see review

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Oh My Shelves: May Redemption Buddy Read	87	21	May 16, 2013 12:52pm
My Vampire Book O...: Group Reads - Penton Legacy	40	86	Apr 15, 2013 05:33am

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Redemption (Penton Legacy #1)

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