What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Secrets #1
The Blood Bride
Hope and Xavier must fight for their lives and those of the innocents in a battle for good and evil. But will it be enough?
Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling. She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her.
Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.
Now Hope and Xavier must fight for their lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?
Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling. She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her.
Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.
Now Hope and Xavier must fight for their lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?
198 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
72 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 23, 2020
Full review and others on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Michelle Heron, Imogene Nix, and Total E-Bound Publishing for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
I want to say that this series went through a rewrite and republication, but Goodreads didn’t have the new dates, so I’m pretty sure I have the old information in my graphic. If I end up finding the new information somewhere, I’ll update the graphic sometime! *Edit: I ended up finding the updated information so I did update the graphic! Yay me!* But this was such a fun opportunity, and I’ll be reviewing the next two books in this trilogy sometime soon, so stay tuned for the rest of my reviews hopefully before the end of the year!
trust but verify that the people in your circle are on your team
Without spoilers, I would say that even though people claim to be on your team, you still need to do your due diligence to make sure that’s really the case. In this novel, Xavier is the newest Master of this nest of vampires and “nestlings” – which I’m understanding are the humans that live and work with the group of vampires within each nest? Or at least the young adult humans? I’m still a little unclear about that since Hope’s parents weren’t called Nestlings, but I don’t really remember them being called anything besides whatever Hope’s father’s official title was…. which I forgot what it actually was…
But yeah, what was I saying? Oh right. Even if they are part of your home, your nest, your team, make sure they are actually trustworthy and aren’t looking for a way to usurp your authority or working with the enemy to find a way to murder you. That’s not fun.
As far as how to do that without letting the traitor know that you’re looking for them… well hopefully you have at least one person within your midst that you trust absolutely.
I feel like this ended as a full story, so maybe the trilogy isn’t really related to one another besides being in the same world? Either way, I do appreciate being able to read this first novel to get an idea of the lore that Nix created, the writing style that she has, and the kind of pace that I can anticipate for the rest of the trilogy. I have a feeling that there are going to be some other couples that I’m going to be introduced to, so I’m interested to see how those couples compare to Hope & Xavier.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Michelle Heron, Imogene Nix, and Total E-Bound Publishing for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
I want to say that this series went through a rewrite and republication, but Goodreads didn’t have the new dates, so I’m pretty sure I have the old information in my graphic. If I end up finding the new information somewhere, I’ll update the graphic sometime! *Edit: I ended up finding the updated information so I did update the graphic! Yay me!* But this was such a fun opportunity, and I’ll be reviewing the next two books in this trilogy sometime soon, so stay tuned for the rest of my reviews hopefully before the end of the year!
trust but verify that the people in your circle are on your team
Without spoilers, I would say that even though people claim to be on your team, you still need to do your due diligence to make sure that’s really the case. In this novel, Xavier is the newest Master of this nest of vampires and “nestlings” – which I’m understanding are the humans that live and work with the group of vampires within each nest? Or at least the young adult humans? I’m still a little unclear about that since Hope’s parents weren’t called Nestlings, but I don’t really remember them being called anything besides whatever Hope’s father’s official title was…. which I forgot what it actually was…
But yeah, what was I saying? Oh right. Even if they are part of your home, your nest, your team, make sure they are actually trustworthy and aren’t looking for a way to usurp your authority or working with the enemy to find a way to murder you. That’s not fun.
As far as how to do that without letting the traitor know that you’re looking for them… well hopefully you have at least one person within your midst that you trust absolutely.
I feel like this ended as a full story, so maybe the trilogy isn’t really related to one another besides being in the same world? Either way, I do appreciate being able to read this first novel to get an idea of the lore that Nix created, the writing style that she has, and the kind of pace that I can anticipate for the rest of the trilogy. I have a feeling that there are going to be some other couples that I’m going to be introduced to, so I’m interested to see how those couples compare to Hope & Xavier.
January 23, 2014
Fab story, but it took me a while to relate to the heroine. But the hero *swoon* he's as sexy as Hell. Love a lot of the character quicks and plot twists and looking forward to reading its sequel, The Illuminated Witch. Congrats, Nix! Imogene Nix
October 24, 2020
Hope and Xaviers story is a paranormal / vampire romance with a hint of suspense and mystery .
I’m a little unsure how to rate this book to be honest , while I thought the story line was interesting and held good ideas I found it difficult to engage with the characters and plot as I felt many times I was bogged down in overly descriptive details and sometimes repetitive information. So I would skim a few pages to jump ahead of some of those moments.
This story was a different take on vampires - with vampires that bleed and take part in every day things like shaving - these vampires also lived in nests that had humans involved in maintaining them and a hierarchy that took a while to understand . There are also many secrets and mysteries along the way that could get a little confusing .
There are some hot steamy moments between the h and H , which added some spice to the story.
I’m a little unsure how to rate this book to be honest , while I thought the story line was interesting and held good ideas I found it difficult to engage with the characters and plot as I felt many times I was bogged down in overly descriptive details and sometimes repetitive information. So I would skim a few pages to jump ahead of some of those moments.
This story was a different take on vampires - with vampires that bleed and take part in every day things like shaving - these vampires also lived in nests that had humans involved in maintaining them and a hierarchy that took a while to understand . There are also many secrets and mysteries along the way that could get a little confusing .
There are some hot steamy moments between the h and H , which added some spice to the story.
November 2, 2020
I read this book because it sounded interesting. I've read Nix's books before and enjoyed them and this was no different.
I was a little worried at the beginning that the main character would be your typical mary-sue but was happily disappointed. The main character Hope was relatable, especially in her desire for freedom from the restrictions her parents put on her. He constant chafing at being restricted in her actions and basically put in protective custody was something any sane person could relate to. It was nice to see a family arc in a story where they whole family wasn't lovey-dovey and supportive, and instead there was a decent amount of friction between them. The only downside I found was that I picked who was betraying the main character about halfway through the book, however her true face being revealed was still a shock.
I admit to crying my eyes out as well as laughing and smiling while reading this book
I was a little worried at the beginning that the main character would be your typical mary-sue but was happily disappointed. The main character Hope was relatable, especially in her desire for freedom from the restrictions her parents put on her. He constant chafing at being restricted in her actions and basically put in protective custody was something any sane person could relate to. It was nice to see a family arc in a story where they whole family wasn't lovey-dovey and supportive, and instead there was a decent amount of friction between them. The only downside I found was that I picked who was betraying the main character about halfway through the book, however her true face being revealed was still a shock.
I admit to crying my eyes out as well as laughing and smiling while reading this book
October 29, 2020
Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling. She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her.
Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.
Now Hope and Xavier must fight for lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?
-------‐---------------------------------
I have to admit I didn't realise how evocative this book would be, it drew me in throughout. It was a roller coaster ride of happiness, tension, anger, lust, despair and every feeling in between. This is a well written novel with beautiful flow.
The character development is truly wonderful and the descriptions bring the settings and personalities alive in your imagination. The steamy scenes were also well written without being crude or vulgar and the romance makes it into a wonderful feel good novel. I loved every minute of this and I highly recommend it
Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.
Now Hope and Xavier must fight for lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?
-------‐---------------------------------
I have to admit I didn't realise how evocative this book would be, it drew me in throughout. It was a roller coaster ride of happiness, tension, anger, lust, despair and every feeling in between. This is a well written novel with beautiful flow.
The character development is truly wonderful and the descriptions bring the settings and personalities alive in your imagination. The steamy scenes were also well written without being crude or vulgar and the romance makes it into a wonderful feel good novel. I loved every minute of this and I highly recommend it
June 26, 2013
The Blood Bride is the start to a new series and it should be an interesting series. With secrets all over the place it is amazing that anyone kept up with the truth. our hero is Xavier, a 400 year old master to a vampire nest, and out heroine is Hope who has just returned to the nest after getting her degree in school.
I found this story started out a bit confusing however it did get better as the story progresses. I would be easy to feel sorry for Hope but then she turns around and shows her backbone and why she is the heroine of the novel.
Old secrets thought long dead return, feelings thought impossible to allow happen and the result is an erotic paranormal romance that I was willing to stay up late to read. Ms. Nix does a good job at explaining the crowds and the background of the story and the characters.
We do have several hot scenes and they can be a little descriptive as well as being written so that passion shows through and not just sex for the sake of sex.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I found this story started out a bit confusing however it did get better as the story progresses. I would be easy to feel sorry for Hope but then she turns around and shows her backbone and why she is the heroine of the novel.
Old secrets thought long dead return, feelings thought impossible to allow happen and the result is an erotic paranormal romance that I was willing to stay up late to read. Ms. Nix does a good job at explaining the crowds and the background of the story and the characters.
We do have several hot scenes and they can be a little descriptive as well as being written so that passion shows through and not just sex for the sake of sex.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2020
An interesting and great start to the series. This book is about Hope who has recently come home from college back to her family and the nest, to find everything has changed in her absence she has become distant from her family and a new master has come into the fray to shake up everything she has ever know.
To make things more difficult she is having premonitions and Hope and Xavier must work together to defeat the evil plaguing them from in the shadows.
I really enjoyed it as I am a big fan of the genre, the story was well paced albeit a bit fast in places. For example i felt the ending conflict went a little to fast to properly enjoy and I didn't connect well with the main character Hope as I felt she was a little over the top, and wasn't a very strong character until nearing the end.
The other characters were great, and I loved some of the side characters the most - so I'm looking forward to their stories.
All in all it's a great start to the series
To make things more difficult she is having premonitions and Hope and Xavier must work together to defeat the evil plaguing them from in the shadows.
I really enjoyed it as I am a big fan of the genre, the story was well paced albeit a bit fast in places. For example i felt the ending conflict went a little to fast to properly enjoy and I didn't connect well with the main character Hope as I felt she was a little over the top, and wasn't a very strong character until nearing the end.
The other characters were great, and I loved some of the side characters the most - so I'm looking forward to their stories.
All in all it's a great start to the series
August 6, 2013
It was good and I enjoyed the read but I wouldn't say it was consistent.
It was a tad hard to get into and you had to pay attention to all of the intricacies in the world building in order to understand everything but once you get pass that the story really picked up.
In the second half however I started to get annoyed with the main character and found her to be somewhat juvenile and maybe even a little repetitive.
It did pick up again towards the end but I found it to be a somewhat anticlimatic ending, overall however it was an enjoyable read with potential for development.
It was a tad hard to get into and you had to pay attention to all of the intricacies in the world building in order to understand everything but once you get pass that the story really picked up.
In the second half however I started to get annoyed with the main character and found her to be somewhat juvenile and maybe even a little repetitive.
It did pick up again towards the end but I found it to be a somewhat anticlimatic ending, overall however it was an enjoyable read with potential for development.
June 25, 2013
I sorry, but as soon as I see the word 'house' 20 odd times in the epilogue alone, I'm thinking it has to be just another unedited Indie and I can't read on.
Yes, it is about the story, but really, REPS are a pet hate.
Yes, it is about the story, but really, REPS are a pet hate.
July 9, 2013
I loved the book. I enjoyed the interplay between the characters and the build up of tension in the love story. I yearned to be wooed by a vampire by the end and they have never really interested me before now. Well written and enjoyable to read.
June 26, 2013
The plot was okay but it just couldn't hold my attention for that long. I would be reading then I would be thinking about something else, forgetting that I was reading in the first place.
d-n-f
April 21, 2016Super disappointed. Even skimming couldn't save this.
June 28, 2013
What an interesting take on an old theme. Very much enjoyed the characters, twists and turns.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews