Absolution

Penton Legacy #2

by Susannah Sandlin

With the vampire world on the brink of civil war over the scarcity of untainted human blood, battle lines are being drawn between the once peaceful vampire and human enclave of Penton, Alabama, and the powerful Vampire Tribunal. Mirren Kincaid once served the tribunal as their most creative and ruthless executioner—a time when he was known as the Slayer. But when assigned a killing he found questionable, Mirren abandoned the tribunal’s political machinations and disappeared—only to resurface two centuries later as the protector and second-in-command of Penton. Now the tribunal wants him back on their side.

To break their rogue agent, they capture Glory Cummings, the descendant of a shaman, and send her to restore Mirren’s bloodthirsty nature. But instead of a monster, Glory sees a man burdened by the weight of his past. Could her magic touch—meant by the tribunal to bring out a violent killer—actually help Mirren break his bonds and discover the love he doesn’t believe he deserves?

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

307 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2012

About the author

Pseudonym of Suzanne Johnson

Suzanne Johnson writing as Susannah Sandlin is the author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, often set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! She is the author of the Penton Legacy series (REDEMPTION, ABSOLUTION, OMEGA, ALLEGIANCE and STORM FORCE (spinoff), The Collectors series (LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP and DEADLY, CALM, AND COLD) and the upcoming romantic suspense series Wilds of the Bayou, which began with book one, WILD MAN'S CURSE (April 5, 2016) and continues with the release of BLACK DIAMOND on Oct. 18, 2016.

Awards include the 2015 Holt Medallion for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2015 Booksellers Best Award for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2013 Holt Medallion award for ABSOLUTION; a 2014 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for ALLEGIANCE; a 2013 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for OMEGA; and the 2014 Linda Howard Award of Excellence for ELYSIAN FIELDS (written as Suzanne Johnson).

Suzanne Johnson, writes the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series: ROYAL STREET; RIVER ROAD; ELYSIAN FIELDS; PIRATE'S ALLEY, and BELLE CHASSE (coming November 8, 2016). A novella and story collection from the Sentinels world, PIRATESHIP DOWN, was released in 2015.

Reviews

[Denisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpected read.


I really enjoy this plot, the idea of a vampire plague. And the characters were fun! I mean, we had the ultimate alpha badass in this book, what's not to like.


Plus, I'm so happy to see authors who are not afraid to kill a character that everyone liked! That's so rare! I'm always happy to find stuff I didn't expect in a book.

The main chick was ok, not great but well, decent enough not to hate her or anything. And it got me damn curious about the rest of the series! Too bad there are only 4 books... But hey, you never know, maybe we'll get more at one point!

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolution is Mirren's book. He is the second in command to Aidan and also a master vampire who used to be known as the Slayer...aka the Executioner. But he left that life behind and is trying to find his true self when he is kidnapped and held prisoner. That's when he meets Glory. Knowing there's something different about her, he makes sure to bring her with him when he's rescued.

Mirren is a very complex character...and I've always have a thing for those haunted, tortured men who can be saved. It was interesting to see glimpses of his life and how he lives and it was funny seeing this through other people who were also seeing it for the first time. It made me laugh how he kept his tools in the kitchen because he never learned or needed to use the things in there!

I also liked Glory and it was intriguing to see how she learned to use her powers although I was disappointed that there wasn't more interaction between her and Hannah. I did enjoy her and Mirren but I wish there were more steamy scenes between the two of them.

Unlike the first book where we were finding out about the vampires, the town and the history, this book has much more action and fighting. There's some deaths that I'm not happy about and it's hard to not be hopeful. There's also quite a few little twists and turns that I didn't see coming and unfortunately, they are still having to deal with the bad guy who always seems to get away!

Overall, I was happy with the way the story went although I wish there would've been more down time and as I said, more time for Mirren and Glory. The focus is on the main couple but we get a lot of the other primary characters as well. It also sets up things for Will's book and who his mate might be.


Favorite quote:

♥ “You can beat your head against a wall trying to change the people you’re supposed to love, or you can walk away and make your own way.”

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Absolution Review:

I love this series, its was such a great change from some of the lesser quality vampire books out there. This one is like True Blood with some Night Huntress thrown in, with its own unique spin. I enjoyed the first book Redemption a lot, and fell in love them with series even more after reading this book.

I think its best to read Redemption first, before this one. But the author does take the time to explain key points that happened in the first, in this one. But to me, you would be missing out on some important things that just makes the story that much better. In this one, there will be consequences to actions from the first one, which I think is better to read about first hand.

I fell in love with Aiden and his ideas, how he treats humans as friends and family, not like cattle, like many of the rest of the vampire population. As we learned in book one, the vaccine to a virus epidemic is poison to the vampires, so they can only feed from un-vaccinated humans. Which is in short supply, the vampires are starving.

Well, Aiden had set up a town, of un-vaccinated humans, who agrees to be their familiars and donate blood too. They get to live in peace in this ghost town that Aiden bought and turned into a thriving town for his people. He is very selective on who can come to this town. Only vampires that are bonded to him and his “scathe” can live there, and from there, all the humans are bonded to a vampire in the scathe, which keeps them safe from any other vampires to try to feed from them. When they are bonded like that, the other vampires can’t touch them. Keeps them safe this way. So the humans that are there are protected in this way. Win, win for both vampires and humans.

In Absolution we follow the story of Mirrem and not Aiden like we did in the first story. I won’t reveal any spoilers, just a few key points that make the stories interesting.

So, as I stated, the Penton town is run and founded by Aiden Murphy, and Mirrem is his 2nd in command. He is 6’8” huge muscled man, scary to see the size; he used to be the executioner for the Vampire Tribunal, until he could not take that life anymore, and faked his own death. Then Aiden had found him, and now is with him and his scathe. So in this book we learn more about Mirrem, and Glory.

Glory is being held prisoner by vampires, the enemies of Aidens scathe, and Mirrem is also captured. And to not give much away, we get to see more compassion from Mirrem, and the romance with Glory is cute, and I loved reading about it.

Glory is a fighter, meaning a strong female that I respected. I liked her humor too. Seeing Mirrem’s sensitive side is nice, and learning more of his past is nice, we only got tid-bits in book one.
Sweey little Hannah was so cute showing her innocence, either when crying or laughing. Love her. The characters are really well developed too. Their psychology is with a real basis, making very believable.

The plot was really well thought out. The author really knows where she is going with this story, and so far I have not seen any inconsistencies at all. I like that. It flows well, and true.
We do get some of Aiden and Krys in this one, but not as much as I would like. It also seemed Aiden was not as protective of her as he was previously, or maybe it was he just trust her more, maybe too much? I am not sure.

Over all, loved this book, and the series so far as a whole.
Watch for my Redemption review. I did not get it written before this tour, as I read them back to back quickly, and had to get this one up.
This can be a stand alone book, meaning you do not HAVE to read the first book, Redemption first. I just personally think its better overall. I suppose if could be read out of order too, and would be fine.

I can’t wait for the 3rd book Omega, due out in Feb 2013.
I highly recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars for me.

Great giveaway on this tour Kindle Paper White (or $100 U.S. gift card to Amazon, B&N, or Book Depository winner's choice),
5 signed print or audio copies of Absolution winner's choice of print or audio, come by my blog at this direct link to the page Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books Absolution Tour and Giveaway

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping the author would develop the Penton Legacy series more in her 2nd book, give the characters more depth and range as Vampire. But it just didn't happen. The Vampires need to be smarter and stronger and of course fast. They need more paranormal abilities. These Vampire have to use cars instead of having paranormal speed. They aren't very strong either. Again the villains the Vampire Tribunal of the Penton Legacy series outsmart and out maneuver The Penton Scathe of vampires and humans. We even lose some of the secondary characters that I had grown to like. Just to tell it like it is The Penton Vampires got there butts handed to them. I am not particularly found of the good guys getting there butts kicked all the time. Sorry this doesn't seem to be a series I can continue reading.

I did love Mirren and Glory's romance and the way they were mated by accident was really good too. I like how she would eat foods that Mirren liked before he became vampire so he could taste it in her blood when he drank. There sexual encounters were sexy and hot and very well written. That's why I am giving Absolution 3 stars instead of 2. Mirren and Glory were a perfectly written couple. There growing love seems real.

[Trish R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd book just as good as the first one...Again..

This book reminded me again how much I loved Mirren (the Slayer) and Glory. The last book ended with Mirren disappearing but Aidan did know from the mind link he had with Mirren that he was still alive; Aidan just didn’t know where he was. Anyway, Will figured out where Mirren was and went and got him, along with a drugged out Glory, who was drugged because of Will’s evil father Matthias. Matthias wanted to know Glory’s secret and when she wouldn’t tell he hooked her on heroin, the bastard. Fortunately for Glory, after they were saved Mirren and Aidan kept her enthralled until her body was clear of the drugs so we didn’t have to see her go through the withdrawals.

Unfortunately, AFTER Mirren and Glory fell in love Glory was taken again and the Slayer in Mirren came out to play again. Mirren is 6’8” and he was some kind of pissed off. He, pretty much, was ready to kill everyone to get Glory back.

This was an exciting and non-stop action book and if you like vamp books this whole series is for you. You just grow to love every character and are saddened when something awful happens to them. But, then you feel better when someone you think deserves to die actually dies. Unfortunately, that horrible Matthias was not one of them to get what he deserves.

There was explicit sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 32 times – about 30 times by Mirren.

As to the narration: In 2014 when I first reviewed this book on Audible it was obvious I had no idea how to rate a narrator or I would have given Amy McFadden a -1. Any time a character 6’8”open his mouth and he sounds just like a girl that’s really bad. Actually, and time ANY man opens his mouth and sounds like a girl it’s bad. However, her women’s voices were all totally different and she read with so much emotions. It was just her men’s voices that truly sucked. That being said, Amy McFadden has come a long way since she narrated this book in 2012.

[comfort · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part two, but can be read as standalone. This is another story of a human and a vamp. She is sought after by another bunch of vamps as she has powers to move objects. He is the ex-slayer who is supposed to be dead. They are living in the commune of Penton where the vamps and humans co-exist.

[Kriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTION takes off right where REDMEPTION left off and in the form of Mr. Tall (6′ 8″), dark (Scottish) and ultimate baddassery award of the year, put a Kilt on it and give me a blue ribbon to pull so see just where else he is tattooed Master Vampire of Yummines, Mirren Kincaid. He is fierce, heck he was a Gallowglass warrior in his former life some four-hundred or so years ago. Even Aiden cannot boast that!

The Gallowglass were a band of warriors that keep being called mercenaries, correction, they were not, they were an elite band of warriors who were the direct servants to the leader of the clan. Think of Samurai gone Scott. In societies and countries who were set up to run like this every lord or clan leader or crazy ass leader of a band of monkeymen had an elite set of warriors, and they were bad ass, the biggest bad asses. And Mirrem was one of the Gallowglass (which literally in Gaelic means servant or indebted to a Chief.) The problem is that people saw them as a band of mercenaries because they were not led nor did they take orders from the head of the military under this chief. But as a working Gallowglass (spelled for us US and twenty-first century peeps) We have bastardized and written history from the viewpoint of the winners. They were beholden be it as indentured or not, to a chief and did what they were told. If their chief died, they did not kill themselves, but they went to be hired on or become indebted to another, so yes it seems like they are mercenaries, but mercenary leaves a bad taste on my tongue when I say it and everyone was indebted to a lord or chief back then, and those that were part of the Gallowglass had honor, despite how fierce they were, how deadly and how hard they swung their ax, they had honor. It shows each time Mirren burns a tattoo into his arm.

What happened between the time he became a vampire and attached himself as the Tribunal’s executioner was his time as a Ronin warrior, he had lost his master, he was lordless. So even in taking on the job as “THE SLAYER” for the Tribunal actually took the mercenary status away, for he followed their orders, and what he did until the one faithful day he refused to go that far, was dishonorable though he kept up his tattooing because he felt every death, and never wanted to forget them. Yes another broken alpha who punishes himself. (oh come closer let me yank that blue ribbon – listen to the Kilt Song if you still do not get it.. snickering)

As I mention in the beginning where I compare a member of the Tribunal to JR from Dallas, Matthias likes kidnapping those with power to serve his own obsession with obtaining any and all power he can steal, conquer or manipulate into, not work for it like an honorable man. He is one of our leading villains, and he likes kidnapping people too. He found one of those he enjoys kidnapping, one with power, Glory Cumming. Another broken but fiercely independent woman who was abused and drugged has been living as a chew toy for Matthias (said vamp) for a month. The twist? Someone caught “The Slayer” and now is holding him in a cell, slowly starving him and widdling him down. It takes these two personalities thrust together by this megalomania and his son William (who calls himself Will and is one of Aiden’s lieutenants) who has never been treat much better than JR treated John Ross Ewing, III. Just like JR, for Matthias blood and loyalty forced is more important than being a good parent. Unlike John Ross Ewing, III, Matthias’ son left and hid for a reason, his father did not fit into where he wanted to be in life. His father forced him to be a vampire at the age of 22 when he turned him. Sick and twisted doesn’t even begin to describe this man. Somehow through a lack of parental guidance or attention, Will managed to escape the cycle and become his own man.

(As you are beginning to see, this is a complex and engaging series. Just writing it out I want to keep going, but I want you to enjoy what I have written and I want to wrap this up.)

Where Aiden and Krys are soft and gentle, in as much as they can be, Mirren and Glory’s story is hot, rough and edgy. She is not afraid to do what it takes to not only keep her man but make a place to call her own in this town, which means defending it to the end. She also is not afraid of him. After all what kind of woman other than a fierce one would fiddle with a man’s dials and electronics, root through his video library and move his tools. Which means learning what her power is all about and accepting it as part of who she is. Just as Mirren learns to accept himself for who he is, and give himself Absolution from his past deeds and crimes.

Glory is going to be a favorite of mine because she cooks. I wanted to have this glorious recipe all created and photographed for you but you are going to have to take it from me, the zen chef and do what Glory did for Mirren, whip up your partners favorite food because a way to a mans heart is through his stomach, yes I know silly but true. For this story boy is it ever true because it was the nail that drove the final spike through and Glory got it right with the first pot of stew. She also discovered her nitch in the community which will not only allow her dream of being a chef come true and is going to be able to make many a vampires dreams and memories a reality, with a taste of their favorite it food, from before they were turned to after!

All and all this book and the first one in the Penton Legacy Series is brilliantly told, funny and bold and so engaging. I really cannot wait for Omega to come out. I gave Redemption a 4 and I am giving Absolution a 5 star review. Throw in the sex scenes in both books at five stars? And make food a primary focus in a book? Cabin Goddess herby places this in the…

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5♥s

"...there were starving vampires, crazy vampire politicians, and vampire pacifists."

For the uninitiated here's a little Penton Legacy background. A viral pandemic swept through the human population, leading to the development of a vaccine. Unfortunately, the vaccine made the blood of humans poisonous to vampires. Unvaccinated humans are scarce, and vampires are hungry.

Aidan Murphy--the hero of Redemption--founded the town of Penton to solve this problem for his scathe, or vampire community. Penton, Alabama, consists of vampires and their unvaccinated humans who are willingly bonded to them. All the town members want is to live in peace. But the Vampire Tribunal, whose hungry members only understand power machinations, have their distrustful eyes on Penton.

Mirren Kincaid was an assassin, the Slayer, for the Tribunal until he received one morally reprehensible assignment too many. He faked his own death and eventually became the bad-ass, second-in-command of Penton. While away from Penton, he is kidnapped by the men of a vicious, calculating Tribunal member, Matthias Ludlam.

Matthias discovers a human with unknown special powers, Glory Cummings. He kidnaps her and attempts to get her to reveal the nature of her powers. When she doesn't, he throws her into the cell with Mirren, who has been starving for a month. Matthias hopes that Mirren will kill Glory, thus turning Mirren back into the Slayer.

Mirren doesn't kill Glory, and when he is rescued he insists on taking Glory with him to Penton. He is unwillingly made responsible for her. Against his better judgment, he is drawn to the straight-talking human who barges her way into his sequestered life. Glory is attracted to the man she sees beneath the forbidding facade he shows to the world. Mirren tries to scare her away, but she isn't running.

But Matthias isn't finished with his grab for power, and Glory is on his hit list since she is a "loose end." Other members of the Tribunal get involved in a power struggle that has grave consequences for Mirren, Glory, and Penton. Will Glory and Mirren survive, let alone find happiness together?

♥♥♥

Glory is "Somebody who doesn't know [Mirren's] past, who isn't afraid of him, who sees behind the asshole he tries to be, who can break down those walls of crabbitude he puts around himself." Instead of seeing a killer in Mirren, she sees a protector. She sees a person who judges himself harshly and finds himself lacking. She sees a man she understands, a man she can soothe, a man she can love.

In Glory, Mirren sees a woman who is "full of life and spirit and joy, even after all the things Matthias had done to her." He also sees an independent woman who babbles when she's nervous.

Speaking of babbling, you'll enjoy the back-and-forth between Mirren and Glory when she babbles and annoys him. Another running joke is her calling him on the carpet for swearing, but ... hell, you'll see.

Not all is chocolates and roses. Mirren and Glory bring a deadly fight to Penton that will have you hooked and turning the pages as fast as you can. Prepare yourself, because Susannah Sandlin doesn't pull her punches. But don't let that stop you from reading this excellent book.

One character I quoted but haven't mentioned is Will Ludlam, Matthias's son and a lieutenant in Penton. Matthias is determined to regain control of his son, and Will is just as determined to remain loyal to Aidan Murphy. We see some of Matthias's play for Will in Absolution, and also the beginning of Will's relationship with another lieutenant, Randa. The next Penton Legacy book, Omega, is Will and Randa's story. I can't wait to visit Penton again.

See more of my reviews at Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley. Sign up to follow by e-mail and you'll receive notification of monthly giveaways as soon as they're posted!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this action packed, swoon worthy paranormal romance series. Sandlin captured my attention from page one and held it to the last page. As I closed the book and caught my breath I immediately wanted the next book. Absolution features vampire Mirren Kincaid and Glory Cumming’s story. While this could easily work as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order to meet all the characters in the town of Penton, Alabama.

The tale picks up almost immediately where Redemption ended. Mirren Kincaid is a master vampire, known as “the Slayer” due to his previous carnage for the Vampire Tribunal. After a killing he felt wrong about he left that life and is now second in command in Penton. The tribunal has decided they want him back and are determined to have him. They capture Glory Cumming planning to use her to break him. They lock her in his cage after starving him. Glory prepares to die, but instead finds there is more to this man then his thirst. The tale that unfolds is action packed, filled with sexual tension and a romance I found myself rooting for.

I really liked Mirren from the onset of the Penton Legacy series and was delighted to get to know the man behind the tough guy exterior. He is a killer, but with it comes a price and no one is harder on him then the man himself. Dressed in black and rippling with muscle he is completely swoon worthy and it was delightful to watch him fall for Glory. Glory has had a rough life. Descended from a shaman she has abilities she is unable to control. She is fiercely independent, and not at all afraid of Mirren. I loved the interactions between the two of them and how headstrong she was. The romance was cute, edgy, and downright hot. These two quickly get in over their heads and it was so much fun to watch it unfold. We get to see other townsfolk, and learned more about Will and his partner. I am seriously hoping his romance is the next to develop. *hint* There were plenty of evil villains to hate and the tension they created had me turning the pages.

Sandlin’s world is unique and I love the small setting of Penton, Alabama. A vaccine used to stop a virus has made anyone whose had it poison to vampires. This had caused a blood shortage for the vampire world as unvaccinated humans are scarce. Aiden Murphy has built the town of Penton, offering hope to lost, downtrodden humans and vampires. Here they live side by side. They are all bonded to Murphy and in exchange for blood they work together to build a haven. Vampires around the world are looking to the success/failure of Penton. Some members of the tribunal feel threatened by them and will stop at nothing to see Murphy and his town destroyed. Sandlin delivers a plot that is fast paced, with tons of action packed, kick-ass scenes that had my heart racing. She does this while weaving the stories of the townsfolk into the tale bringing it to life. She blurs the lines of reality for me and I get completely lost in the story. The characters are fully developed and we even see growth in them. I cannot wait to go back to Penton.
I want to thank Susannah Sandlin for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way to follow up book 1!
In this one, Mirren "the slayer" was captured by Mathias Ludlum, who hoped to force Mirren back to being the tribunals mercenary and/or his personal goon. During this same time, Mathias kidnapped a young Gloriana, a clerk at a Circle K gas station, because he sensed some special powers he thought he could add to his arsenal for his war against Aiden & the Pentonville Community. When Mathias was unable to break Glori, he locked her in a room with Mirren, a vampire who hadn't been fed in a month. But being a master vampire helped Mirren keep some control around Glori, and when Mirren was rescued he took Glori too.

Thus began Mirren & Glori's journey towards coupledom! A great, though not easy adventure. But it was a helping process for the slayer and the freak. This author has made a seemingly simple & predictable storyline very engaging and fun to read. I love the various characters and how they were intertwined. I can't wait for book 3&4

[Laura..devouring books like crumpets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!!!!! I love Mirren and Gloria.....

I preferred this to the first book... both Gloria and Mirren are such multi dimensional characters, The story is fast paced and i love how i have no idea what was going to happen or how things will end up panning out.....



The ending of the story wraps up with the couple nicely but leaves up Penton itself in question...

I am doing the Audio and im looking forward to Will's story... But i have a funny feeling Randa is going to be his love interest and i cant stand the voice the Narrator uses for her...

But the Characters and story will be worth it i hope Will eventually kills Matthias!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Penton Legacy series and I’m getting pretty involved in the plot and the characters.

The first book was an introduction to the town of Penton, Alabama which is an actual town in Eastern Alabama near Georgia. I Googled it but I think the author changed things up a bit to make things interesting. The book version of the town has it being a virtual ghost town, a textile mill town that has died out thanks to the textile industry moving overseas. A master vampire named Aidan Murphy has made it his new home and has brought the town back to life.

A pandemic flu has hit the world and a wreaked havoc on the elderly, sick and very young but scientist were quick to invent a vaccine for it and almost everyone in the world has been vaccinated against it. The Pandemic Vaccination has made the blood of anyone vaccinated with it poisonous to vampires which, of course, humans are unaware of. There are very few humans left who are unvaccinated so vampires are starving and fighting over the ones they can find…mostly drug addicts and the homeless who were too high or down and out to bother going and getting the vaccine.

A master vampire named Aidan Murphy has come up with a solution. He has built up a scathe, vampires bonded and loyal to each other, and has recruited humans to live in the town. He believes that humans should be treated as equals and with respect instead of as food as most vampires treat humans. He has taken unvaccinated humans from the streets and homeless shelters and helped them withdraw from drugs or helped them with whatever problem they had and then made them an offer to live in the tiny town of Penton for the exchange of blood with the vampires who live there. If they refuse, he simply erases their mind of their encounter with him and lets them live their lives but if they agree, they can have a great life in Penton. All humans are bonded to a scathe member which makes it impossible for other vampires outside the scathe to feed off of them. If they ever want to leave, he will erase their minds of their time in Penton and take them to wherever they want to live. It is a great setup and the town is doing well.

In the last book, Matthias Ludlum, a member of the Vampire Tribunal which is the organization that makes and enforces the laws of all vampires, became obsessed with Aidan Murphy and the town of Penton and wants to destroy it. His son, William, is one of the scathe members loyal to Aidan and Matthias hates it. His son ran away from Matthias and avoided him for decades but Matthias learned that William was hiding out in Penton and he wants him back. Matthias is not only a member of the Tribunal but also the head of the Justice Council and he used that position to release Aidan’s crazy brother, Owen, from imprisonment in Ireland where he was scheduled for execution for killing and draining humans and carelessly leaving them for authorities to find on the streets of Dublin. Matthias told Owen if he killed Aidan, he could live and then feed off the humans in Penton.

Owen and a bunch of desperate vampires wreaked havoc on the town, attacking Aidan and shooting one of his lieutenants with buckshot covered in the vaccinated blood, bombing a restaurant which killed fifteen humans and almost killed Aidan’s mate before they were able to kill him. Aidan had to turn his mate Krystal into a vampire in order for her to live which was against Tribunal law. The Tribunal made it illegal to make any new vampires until a new generation of non-vaccinated humans grew up…and nobody is even sure if children born to vaccinated humans would also be poisonous to them. It was just too soon to tell.

In this book, one of the humans whose husband was killed during one of Owen’s attacks wanted to leave Penton so Mirren, the only other master vampire in the Penton scathe, took her to her desired location and erased her mind. He left her with plenty of money to start over again and then headed back towards Penton. He stopped at one of their safe houses along the way to get his day sleep but Matthias had people watching the house and six of them kidnapped him.

Mirren has a dark past. In his human life he was a warrior who fought most of his life. As a vampire, he worked for the Vampire Tribunal as their assassin until they asked him to kill a child. He was known as the Slayer because he always got his target, he tortured for information and he could kill twenty men with his sword or battle axe easily. He realized the Tribunal was more evil than the people he was hunting and faked his death and hid from them for a very long time until he hooked up with Aidan and his scathe and Matthias’ intel exposed him.

Glory Cummings was working at Circle K when Matthias stopped in to get cigars. He smells her and knows she is unvaccinated but what interests him more is when he touches her hand, he feels power coming off of her. He entrances her and tells her to meet him outside. He kidnaps her and takes her to a house, locks her in a room where he shoots her up with heroin and gets her hooked. He passes her around to his vampires who are not careful with her. Vampires can make feeding off a human pleasurable and unpainful but these vampires scar her neck and make it as painful as possible. Matthias keeps asking her what her powers are but she refuses to answer him even when he enthralls her.

Matthias is keeping Mirren downstairs with his hands tied in silver which weakens a vampire and his cell has silver bars so there is no escape. Mirren is being starved. Matthias thinks he can get Mirren to turn on Aidan’s scathe and work for the Tribunal again…or better yet…for him personally so he can help get his son William back. He knows just how to break him too.

When Glory continues to refuse to tell Matthias anything, he throws her in the cage with Mirren expecting for Mirren to rip her apart which Matthias thinks will turn him back into the Slayer but that doesn’t happen. Glory who is high as heck talks and talks to Mirren. When Glory is nervous, she talks. She unties Mirren’s hands and talks or slurs because she is so high. Mirren feeds off of her but is gentle with her. He puts her in a trance to help her withdraw from the heroin. It is how he and Aidan were able to get so many of their Penton residents off of drugs.

William Ludlum, Matthias’ son, is basically a genius. He can hack almost any computer system and is good with puzzles and architecture. When Mirren doesn’t show back up in Penton for a month, Will is sent out to rescue him and he does but Mirren refuses to leave without Glory so they take her with them back to Penton.

Man, I love Glory. She is hilarious when she gets to talking. I do the same thing when I am nervous. I just start talking and talking. I do it when I try to lie too. I’m just a horrible liar. I end up telling on myself or putting my foot in my mouth or offending someone. Glory is one of those. Mirren won’t admit it but he likes her. He decides to sponsor her while she is in Penton which he has never done for any other human. He keeps to himself and not even Aidan knows much about him except he is a man of few words and he used to be the Slayer. Melissa drops Glory off at Mirren’s house while he is in his day sleep and tells her that she will be staying with him until they find her a permanent house or she decides to leave.

Glory loves to cook and has a dream to be a chef or open her own restaurant one day. She borrows money from Melissa and insists on paying it back even though Melissa tries to explain to her that Mirren is rich and is sponsoring her. Glory will not allow anyone to pay her way. She buys a big pot, cooking utensils and groceries and makes herself at home in Mirren’s house while he is asleep. She makes a big stew and puts on one of his movies from his mega Western movie collection. When Mirren wakes up, he hears gunshots and races out into his living room to find the gunshots came from his expensive entertainment center that he doesn’t like anyone touch. In fact, he never lets anyone into his house yet here is Glory wearing one of his shirts and cooking in his kitchen. He grumbles around while she talks away, telling him that Melissa let her into the house and even came in herself to see if he had motorcycle parts spread around his house but she tells him she realized the parts are stored in the kitchen drawers. She talks and talks until he tells her, “Stop!” He has to say that a lot to her. She also gets on him every time he curses. He tells her, “It’s my f—ing house and I’ll f—ing curse if I want to.”

They end up really liking each other. Mirren was scared to hurt her at first but she tames him. They accidently become mated. To mate, the vampire has to really like someone and have all kinds of chemical responses going on. An exchange of blood has to happen too and it did because Glory bit his finger and drew blood when she was playing around with him. Oops! They don’t even realize they are mated until Aidan smells it on them. I guess vampires can smell that kind of thing.

Glory gets a job at the local grocery store and at the encouragement of Hannah, a vampire who was turned when she was a child and who is psychic, she practices her telekinetic powers and starts to get control of them.

A supposed ally to Aidan on the Tribunal named Lorenzo Caias or Renz who we met in the first book, went after Matthias and exposed his dealings with Owen to the Tribunal which got him kicked off the Justice Council and a pending investigation into the other accusations of supplying Owen with Pandemic blood and kidnapping Glory and Mirren. Aidan trusts Renz but Mirren does not. Mirren turns out to be right. Renz visits Penton again and tells them what he did and warns them that Matthias will be out to destroy anything or anyone who may be able to connect him to any wrong doings. He suggests that they give Glory to him so he can record her statement and keep her safe while the Tribunal decides whether or not to kick Matthias off the Tribunal. He knows that both Aidan and Mirren are mated but he does not know to whom.

When Renz asks Aidan about Krystal because the last time he was there, he knew Aidan was with her, Aidan tells her she died and he is mated to a vampire. They don’t trust Renz enough to tell him that Krystal was turned into a vampire. They ask Melissa to prepare a room below the clinic for Renz to spend the rest of the night and use it for his day sleep and they go have a meeting. While Aidan and Mirren are in the meeting, Renz goes to Mirren’s house and forces his way into the house. He sees Krystal and knows she is a vampire. He also knows Glory is mated to Mirren. He tries to kidnap Glory so Krystal tries to fight him but she is no match for him and he knocks her out. Glory uses her powers to take Mirren’s huge flat screen television and throw it at Renz but he is so powerful that it barely hurts him.

By the time Mirren and Aidan get to Mirren’s house, Renz is long gone and has Glory with him. They know Renz owns a lot of home in the South and have to figure out which one he would go to and how to get Glory back. Renz has the power to destroy them now that he knows about Krystal so this could be the beginning of the end for Penton.

Nine out of ten books, I don’t really like the leading lady either because she is too good to be real or she does stupid things like run away from the good guys straight into the bad guys grasps. I just don’t like perfect people. I like people who make mistakes and are able to laugh at themselves when they do it. I like people who are sarcastic and make jokes. Let’s face it, goody-two-shoes are boring and in real life, they are judgmental and condescending. I really liked this leading lady, not only because she talked a lot but because she knew Mirren had a bad past and that he killed people for a living and accepted it. She even accepted that he would have to keep on killing to protect her and the people of Penton and was okay with that. She helped Mirren with some of his inner demons like how he tattooed himself with something by using acid and ink every time he killed someone. She showed him different ways to deal with it instead of mutilating himself. I also liked that she didn’t panic and freak out over everything. She went into self-preservation mode instead of panic mode when things got scary. I just thought she was someone who I would like to be around and liked her character.

This story is getting deeper and more complicated and the people of Penton are facing an unsure future. I am gobbling these books up and will probably finish too soon since there are only one or two more books left. I’m not sure if there will be more written in the series or if the series actually ends. Maybe I should look it up.

www.paranormalromanceslut.com

[Katherine McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts

Another page-turner. Another all-nighter my lovelies. This series is now on my Top Ten list. Even this early in the game (it’s only Book #2), I feel that The Penton Legacy deserves a place among the elite of the paranormal romances.

To be included on my Top Ten list, a series will evoke strong emotion from me, is memorable enough that I’m sure I’ll recall details for a long time to come, I’ll want to pick it up and do a reread and I would never hesitate to recommend it to all my friends risking my reputation as a reviewer. The Penton Legacy absolutely meets these requirements.

If you like Midnight Breed by Lara Adrian, Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward and Sentinel Wars by Shannon K Butcher, you’ll like this series. In my opinion, the worldbuilding, plot, writing and emotional connection to the characters is on par with those exceptional ‘must read’ paranormal romances.

The first in the series, Redemption, is amazing (you can check out my review by clicking here) and I found this one is even better. The excitement and suspense is on the same level as the first but I think it was the main characters in Absolution that I connected with more.

Mirren, oh dear GAWD, that bad boy is hot! And Glory is one remarkable heroine. There are not too many people who can stare down a 6’8”, 300 lb., muscled, goateed, tattooed, Norse-descended, Scottish-born, Irish-raised vampire mercenary, born and bred to kill. Mankind and vampkind alike run for the hills when they see or even hear whispers of The Slayer. But not Glory. Oh no. With hands on hips, she stares him down, talks his ear right off and brings him to his knees. All with love, respect and understanding that is not easy with a tormented soul like Mirren. I love these characters. I found their chemistry to be true and admired how they dealt with everything that was thrown at them.

Like the last novel, there’s non-stop action so strap yourselves in for the ride and get ready for an all-nighter.
________________________________________
About the story…
________________________________________
The story continues with more mayhem in the small town of Penton - a place where vampires and humans lived together in peace and harmony until recently. After a pandemic that threatened the lives of humans, a vaccine was found and administered to most of the population.

Crisis averted. For the mankind that is. Vampkind, however, is not faring so well. The vaccine is toxic to them so they cannot drink from any human who received the treatment. There is a serious shortage of blood now for vampires and they are suffering in a very bad way. It has reached the point of desperation where unvaccinated humans are abducted for their blood. Some are even sold on the vampire black market.

The Vampire Tribunal is aware of Penton and how Aidan has a steady supply of unvaccinated humans living with him while other vampires are starving. Hunger, paranoia of a potential threat to their power makes Penton a target. One member of the Tribunal has his own plans for vengeance and uses what he can to fuel the fire of the others.

In this second novel of the series, Glory finds herself amongst all this madness. She is one of the abducted humans and after her escape, it’s believed she poses a threat. Mirren brings her back to Penton for protection. And so the excitement begins.
________________________________________
About the Characters…
________________________________________
Everyone, and I mean everyone, vampires and humans alike is scared shitless of Mirren. Even the almighty Vampire Tribunal. Born and bred as a gallowglass (an elite mercenary warrior) in life, he was a fierce warrior. After turned vampire, he worked for the Tribunal as a mercenary doing their dirty work. He left them and eventually joined with Aidan desiring a peaceful life.

Even though he now lives in this very small town where everyone knows your business, no one knows his real story (not even Aidan). They only know rumors of his past. He’s grouchy, prickly and avoids getting close to anyone.

This quote from the last book cracked me up: Aidan’s description of Mirren upon meeting Krys.
“Mirren gave her a curt nod and assumed his normal expression, something between a sphinx and a turnip. Aidan stifled a laugh; Mirren considered that his friendly look.”

Also from the last book: Mirren having to sit and talk to a delegate from the Vampire Tribunal.
“The big guy sat through the twenty-minute ordeal wearing his stone-gargoyle face, arms crossed over his chest, answering Renz’s questions with a full repertoire of grunts and vague, monosyllabic replies. Thank God Renz had a good sense of humor. “You don’t like to talk about your past, do you, Mr. Kincaid?” he finally asked. Mirren fixed him with a look that would freeze icebergs. “You think?” It had been his longest sentence of the night.”

There’s that warrior side of him but there’s also a soft side that no one but Glory has ever managed to bring out. Glory is a fabulous heroine. She’s smart and more stubborn than Mirren could ever think of being. This is a quote from when she suspected Mirren was going to leave:
“She did love him, damn it. All of him. She just had to convince him of it. And if he tried to walk out on her, she might have to find her own inner gallowglass.” Love that line and I think it gives you great insight into her character!

There’s a real kinship between the main characters and the banter between Aidan, Mirren and Will is hilarious. Afraid as they were of Mirren, it didn’t stop them from poking a stick at the big ole grouch trying to get a rise out of him.
________________________________________
Bottom Line
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After only two novels, I have listed this series in my Top Ten favorite PNR series of all time. The story is memorable, compelling and has a unique spin in a genre saturated with vampires. I quickly became invested in the characters and I enjoyed it so much that I have no hesitation in recommending it to you my friends! It’s one that I will most assuredly do a reread and know I’ll enjoy it again just as much.

Happy Reading!!

5 Stars – Absolutely Loved It!!!!!

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was first published on my blog Lecture Toute une Aventure Where you can also find a review in French (Si vous souhaitez lire la version française de cette review, merci de visiter mon blog)

It’s always great when the second book of a series is of the same quality than the first one and Susannah Sandlin doesn’t disappoint at all!

Now to enjoy this book to his full extend, it’s really better to read Redemption first because they are a lot of consequences from facts done in this first book as well as a lot of details explained. I guess Absolution can be read alone, yes, since the author took the time to explain again some important facts but you would be missing too many things at my opinion. Now if you have read Redemption first, you are just going to be immersed in the story where you left it.

This book is centred on Mirren, second in command to Aidan and experimented warrior. This strong vampire isn’t happy, his life in Penton is giving him some satisfaction but mostly he is still caught in his past and what he has done. Once he was the executioner for the Vampire Tribunal and while at his post he didn’t think about what he was doing since he what similar to his job as an human warrior but slowly he started to wonder until a case that put everything under a new lights. He then decided to disappear and faked his own death but until Aidan he didn’t believe in anything again. He keeps torturing himself, thinking he is only good at killing even if in the same time he is trying to change his way of living and reputation. While caught in his enemy hands thought he fights to stay who he wants to be and instead of killing the woman sent to him he drinks from her without abuse and saves her at the first occasion.

Glory has always lived the life of an outcast; even her family was ashamed of her because of her difference. Captured and tortured by vampires, she refuses to gives them what they want. Even drugged, she keeps resisting so much that he captor gives up and prefers to use her as a bait to make Mirren become a killer, lover of blood again. However, when confronted to her supposed killer, Glory sees first a man, another prisoner who needs her help. Saved and under his protection, she learns to accept herself while discovering what Mirren kept secret about him and instead of seeing his past like an hindrance she saw it as what made him become the man he is, the loyal protector. She decides quickly to put her talents to his service.
It was wonderful to learn so much about Mirren, to see why he was afraid of the responsibilities and how troubled he is, we had a glimpse of those reasons in Redemption but it was vague. In absolution, we really can understand him and discover his humour. His relationship with Glory is cute, the way he see her as fragile and him so strong while she thinks and sees something quite different. They both have to adjust and the author did use the perfect psychology for them, so well that we can understand and feel compassion for what they lived and what they are facing now.

I also loved to see Will again, transformed really young he was still a bit immature in the first book, playing videogame, making jokes but he could also act like the lieutenant he is. In this book we see his evolution while he still act like a teenager when bickering with Randa about anything he also take responsibilities. He takes some risks for what he believes in and he admits his weaknesses, he doesn’t try to hide them. He isn’t a leader but he is a really good lieutenant and his abilities shouldn’t be looked down. If Mirren is a great battle tactician, he still need Will as an excellent analyst. I wouldn’t mind to discover how he joined Aidan in more details.
Aidan and Krys also have they role in this book but a minor one and I was surprised to see Krys so vulnerable because some weeks have passed between the two books and Aidan wasn’t as protective as I thought he would be (a bit too trusting and not paranoiac enough^^)

After the characters, what about the plot? Susannah Sandlin really knew where she wanted to go because the plot is perfectly in the line of the first part of the trilogy, not a glitch. Nothing is missed from what we learned before, no contradictions or inconsistencies. We still have the main plot of the trilogy: the tension between Matthias and Aidan and all the inhabitants of Penton because of his thirst for power, his jealousy. And we have the smaller plots, which have consequences later in the story with the political power struggles with the unexpected allies and the treacheries. This book is just a bit darker yes but nothing too horrible ( and I’m really sensitive^^)The end isn’t a cliffhanger but I can’t wait to read the last part to see how the story will be developed to its conclusion.

I really loved this book with her sweet romance and a Mirren a bit hesitant and far from perfect and a Glory with humour and her dreams, her fighting spirit. Sweet Hannah is so cute and showing her innocence when she is crying or laughing. The characters are really well constructed, their psychology with real basis making them so easy to believe in.

Really, it’s a great book and it was really difficult to put it down. I would recommend it to the lover of paranormal romance and to those who like to see vampires strong, fierce but not overly dominant.

[Megan Riverina Romantics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
Heat Rating: 3/5
Narrator Performance: 4.5/5

[J.A. Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I previously got the chance to review Redemption, which you can check out here. I very much enjoyed the book so I jumped at the opportunity to review the second one. I have to say i was NOT disappointed.

In fact, if I hadn’t already been a fan of Susannah’s writing, this one sealed the deal. Absolution picks up a short while after Redemption leaves off, mainly following Mirren Kincaid. Personally, I was always fond of the big lug in Redemption, so seeing the description mostly talking about him was a big selling point for me. We are also introduced to Glory Cummings, a young woman with telekinetic abilities that she has yet learned to harness. After refusing to help Matthias, a very sinister member of The Vampire Tribunal that generally uses his political powers for his own bidding, she is tossed to a captive Mirren in hopes of reawakening the savage killer he once was.

Unfortunately for Matthias, she seems to have the opposite effect, and after they manage to escape with the help of Matthias’s own son, Will, Mirren finds himself in turmoil with wanting to care about this woman and holding onto the controlled, combat-minded, right-hand man in Penton that he once was. Glory is trying to harness her powers, with the help of the child-vampire Hannah who also possesses special gifts. But she is also trying to get the real Mirren to come out. She knows he is in there…after all, he did save her life when he could have drained her for food or left her for dead.

Amidst the internal struggles these two both go through, there are much bigger fish to fry. Matthias is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Penton is destroyed along with Aidan Murphy. In his eyes, and some of the Tribunal, Aidan Murphy’s scathe has become too large, he has become too powerful, and they fear an uprising.

Susannah managed to not only suck me right back into Penton, but I was gripped, and anxious to turn the page during this second installment of The Penton Legacy. This book is not only full of action, but the growing relationship between Mirren and Glory felt real, and legit. At times it was comedic and heartwarming (these two couldn’t be a bigger contrast to each other), and at other times, it was downright sizzling ( I warned about the heat index on the last book, this one also delivers several HOT scenes *fans self*). I do have to note that, one thing I really liked about this book, was that even the sex scenes felt more naturally sprinkled into the story, than in Redemption. I think maybe this is just something Susannah is just better honing in on as she continues to write. Either way, it was great. One scene in particular was… just wow. (insert applause here).

The story itself delivers a serious kick as the stakes (no pun intended) are raised and Penton fines itself in the crosshairs. Those you thought were allies might turn out to be enemies, and new found allies might suddenly arise as everything is on the brink of destruction. The ending itself was very satisfactory and did a nice job setting up for the third and final installment of this trilogy. I look forward eagerly to reading it.

Thanks again Susannah for another great read!

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Susannah Sandlin once again captivates lovers of paranormal romance with "Absolution", the second entry in "The Penton Legacy" series. In the first book, "Redemption", we traveled to Penton, Alabama, a seemingly unremarkable little town. However, the inhabitants of Penton are anything but "normal"--the town is actually a co-dependent community between vampires and humans. An internationally invasive viral epidemic left the world in chaos--with vaccinated humans no longer a viable food source for vampires. In Penton, Master Vampire Aidan Murphy created a peaceful community of "pure" human feeders and protector vampires who keep the humans safe from outside threats. Mirren Kincaid, once known as "The Slayer", is the guardian of the community. Almost seven feet tall, and three hundred pounds of tattooed muscled vampire, Mirren is an ancient warrior, and a man of many secrets. Long ago, Mirren abandoned his role as the Vampire Tribunal's most lethal executioner and accepted the redemption offered by an alliance with Aidan Murphy. Now the tribunal wants Mirren back, and the evil Matthias Ludlam, Aidan's sworn enemy, will do anything to regain "The Slayer" and destroy the harmony of Penton. Matthias accidentally discovers Glory Cummings, a pure human who is descended from a shaman--spiritual beings with the ability to heal, work with energies and 'see' visions. He attempts to use Glory as "food" for the captured Mirren, hoping to restore "The Slayer" to his former ruthless persona. Torture, drugging, and repeated blood loss have not broken Glory's spirit, so Matthias encloses her in the cell with blood-starved Mirren. Both Mirren and Glory are more complex than Matthias could ever imagine, and his plan to bring out the beast in Mirren fails. Matthias' son, Will, is in league with Aidan, and he rescues Mirren and Glory, bringing them back to safety in Penton. As Glory begins to heal, and Mirren regains his strength, passions flare and hearts become aware. The sexiest weakness in a man is his vulnerability to that one special woman. No matter how big, gruff, rough, and tough a man may be, love makes him reachable. The bigger they are...the harder they fall. Somehow, the more ornery and irritating the Alpha male is, the more irresistible he becomes. The most invincible Alpha male may offer his heart like a gift to the woman he loves, and then he will wait for the look on her face to make sure she is pleased with the gift. In one who is usually without self-doubt, that moment of uncertainty is very appealing. Alphas are external and more obvious. They have the immediate physical impact. A relationship with an Alpha may be incendiary, but will it last? As Glory explores and develops her physic abilities--her shaman heritage--will her strength allow Mirren to break free from centuries of inner torment? Can Aidan and his allies protect their private world in Penton and keep their loved ones safe? Susannah Sandlin has created an involving, imaginative paranormal world that is recommended for lovers of this genre. The series is set to conclude with the third book, "Omega", and I look forward to a fantastic finale!

Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine

[Christal · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!

Absolution takes everything that was great about the debut novel and ratchets it up a notch. We learn more about the world and the characters and the main overarching conflict is kicked into overdrive. All this combined with two new compelling leads and Absolution read like a wild fire!

The previous book definitely piqued my curiosity about Mirren and I was happy to see he was the male lead this time around. He is one sexy mountain of a man, though I can’t shake the unfortunate comparison to Panthro from the Thunder Cats in my head. Make no mistake; Mirren is all vampire and one of the most deadly at that. Learning about the time he served as the Slayer for the Tribunal was fascinating and showed just how much he had changed and how Penton had affected him. Glory was a good foil for Mirren. She was a very strong character and wouldn’t let anyone push her around. She challenged him when he needed it and showed him how different he had become since his days as the Slayer. She knew about carrying hurt and darkness in your heart because of her background and she able to show Mirren how to share it. I liked that she had a little extra power that helped her to defend herself and gave Hannah someone to talk with since they were both descended from Muscogee shamans. I think Aiden and Krys are still my favorite couple, but I loved seeing Mirren learn to open up and love Glory. Plus, they had a really hot scene with handcuffs and bedposts.

We learned more about Will in this book and were introduced to his new partner Randa. Hannah was also given more page time here and I’m interested to see how her relationship with “cousin” Glory plays out. It was nice to see Aiden and Krys still get a little page time and it seems like her transformation at the end of the first book hasn’t affected their relationship at all. I like that the new characters are accepted and supported by the current Penton residents. It was good to see Glory connect with Melissa and Mark and I loved seeing her, Melissa, and Krys having “girl time.”

The conflict between Penton and Matthias was insane in this book. The war has well and truly begun. We knew that Matthias and most of the Tribunal were against Aiden, but I didn’t see the betrayal by one of his allies coming nor did I see the surprise death coming at the end. This was a very powerful entry into the series and I was very glad that I had the third book to jump right into after this one.

Thank you to Susannah Sandlin for providing a review copy of this book!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASIC BOOK/SERIES
Not your typical review, in my reviews I like to tell you my feeling about the book not necessarily describe and summarize it for you. I figure like I do, before I even look at the reviews I first check out the authors own summary of the book and if interested then I look at the stars book was given by readers then proceed to the reviews. They definitely make a difference that’s why when I feel strongly about a book I will give up time to write a review.
In order for me to give a book 5 stars, I have to like the story itself and where it’s heading, which in this book it’s a great story line with good vampires trying to start their own town and live peacefully verses bad political vampires who want to keep everyone under their thumb and look like the good guy. (Just like our own politicians LOL)
The next criteria for 5 stars is to really like or love the main charter or charters. In Absolution I loved Glory and Mirren. I do have to say Glory’s character really made the book; she had laughing out loud throughout the whole book. She was so entertaining with all her one-liners and wit, and she was also very brave, full of compassion and not once did she feel sorry for herself. Sometimes characters drive me crazy when I’m reading, when they keep making stupid decision that get them in trouble or cause other people to come to harm. With Glory she thought over what she wanted and didn’t disappoint me in the least.
I totally liked Mirren as well, big tough guy trying to come to grips with his feeling for Glory and trying to figure out the best way to keep her safe. Throughout the book he struggles with his past and how to overcome what he was bred to do and how to learn to love. It’s a really great story and its wonderful how the pieces come together for Glory and Mirren but at the same time there’s still the danger on what happening to their home Penton and if it’s going to be destroyed. Never was there a dull moment in this book, I was totally entertained throughout it and at certain parts on the edge of my seat.
This book is the second in the series; I would recommend you start with the first one, Redemption, just to get the beginning of the series. I really loved them both but out of the two this was my favorite because of Glory. I can’t wait to read next in series with Will and Randi.
Give it a try you won’t be disappointed!!!!!!!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Mirren in the first book of the Penton Legacy, Redemption, so I was excited to see that the second book was going to be all about the tall, dark and mysterious vamp.

A book all about The Slayer? His past, his secrets, everything? Bring it on. I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to uncover all those deep dark secrets and see what made this bad boy turned good tick.

I knew this book was going to be good but I had no idea it was going to be this good. I seriously loved it!

Glory was so perfect for Mirren. I adored her in all her stubborn feisty and sometimes foolish ways. She was exactly what he needed and I had to love her for that alone, let alone all her other traits that I loved too.

And I was so right about Mirren, the big teddy bear. I knew his story was going to be a good one. I knew he was damaged but of course, I didn't know how damaged he was.

I think after reading this one, I love him even more. He is definitely the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold I love reading about.

I so love that we got all of my favorites from the first book too. Mark and Melissa, Aidan and Kyrs and Will and Hannah and even a couple of new faces as well.

I loved watching Mirren's relationship with his friends and the people of Penton. I had to giggle every time he called Aidan a pigheaded Irish farmer. It was so much fun seeing him open him self up a little more as each chapter went and really becoming the man that he wanted to be. I felt sort of proud for him and his growth.

There were so sad moments in this one, much like the first, where a loved character didn't make it. I won't give anything away but I will say that their death about broke my heart. I truly want to see Matthias get what is due him.

And can I talk about Will? I know there is a great story there as well and I really hope the next book is about him and a certain firey vamp that I will not name. I would love to see that happen.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much better for me than the first. Not only did it hold my interest but the concept of the book has gotten more interesting too.

We meet Glory in a convenient store and Matthias (our bad guy) is looking for his next meal. But what he discovers when he touches Glory is not only is she not vaccinated, she has power. Unfortunately for her, he kidnaps her not only for a meal but to use for her power. What initially starts as a bad situation turns into Mirren's favor and benefit for Penton.

When they finally escape, thanks to Will, the dynamic between Glory and Mirren shifts. First off, Mirren is used to getting what he wants when he wants it and normally that is for people to leave him alone but with Glory she has taken a liking to him and refuses to leave him alone. The attraction they have for one another is pretty high and they end up binding themselves together without realizing they have done so which turns out to be funny and a huge blessing.

In this one, we see how the outside vampires have become worried about the goings of the Penton vampires to the point of wanting to end them for no reason. And with just one mighty vampire taking a misstep the bottom falls out from under the Penton gang. It will be interesting to see how the story continues in the next one and how they have to fend their group off from hostile vampires like Matthias to save what they have going.

[Hbeebti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was even better than the first. Loved Mirren . He was such a tortured warrior. Loved it when he kicked ass and became the slayer again. Man when he thought that Glory was dead and he went on a killing spree and lost it was heart breaking. Also he broke my heart when he used the acid gun to tattoo himself every time he killed so his body is covered in tattoos.

Glory was perfect for Mirren. She was loud and talked to much, which was funny since Mirren is a loner and quite and so very stand offish. But I loved that Glory was tough and yet kind and patient and understanding. She held her own even when she was scared. But the best was when Glory was in Mirren's face and wouldn't let him try sneak away from her cause he thought it would be better for her. She pushed him to confront his feelings and told him if he left that she would follow him. She never let him hide his feelings and that was so refreshing.

This book had a lot of drama and so much went on. One character that I became fond of died and I just couldn't believe it. It just sucked. The war is on now. Aiden and his crew are taking a stand and they have lost too much already. Cant wait to see what happens next. I believe Williams book is next.

[Alana ~ The Book Pimp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4♥'s.... and a little extra.

Solid PNR series with an interesting take on 'current' vampire mythology. It was a little quick, but it kind of comes with the territory once you start adding alpha master vampires, funky vampire chemistry/hormones, a seriously weird and stressful kidnapping situation... basically, the suspension of belief for the sake of the story isn't difficult. It's fun- not quite 'fluff' PNR romance because it has more 'meat'in the story.

I listened to the audiobook, and I must say I thought the narrator did a great job giving each character (especially the 'main ones') their own unique voice. I could really tell when Glory was speaking versus Mellisa or Christy. It was a definite asset, and a worthwhile listen.

Will definitely continue the series, although this isn't one where I fell the need to run out and get the whole series right now - I'm not addicted like a crack addict. Definitely worth a listen and a series to read.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique series with interesting and new vampire tendencies. I particularly liked Mirren Kincaid, what a tortured hero he was. I think Gloriana Cummings is the perfect heroine for him. I enjoyed seeing Mirren fall in love and kick ass when necessary. I continue to enjoy the little town of Penton and hope Matthias gets what's coming to him real soon.

[Lisa M]

Please see my Review of Absolution at Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley.

[Ginny Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished book 3 for the March 2015 Take Control Of Your TBR Pile Challenge Goals - Full review to post soon. This series is available through Kindle Unlimited and includes narration. Great on audio. #TakeControlTBR

[Ashante Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Mirren & Glory}: TRIGGERS: violence, kidnapping, drugging, sexual assault. I totally have fallen in love with this series. Mirren is one of Aidan's lieutenant's and the story picks up right where the last book ended. Mirren is not dealing well with losing his familiars so he takes off. Aidan feels that he's still alive but can't see where through their connection. Glory is kidnapped by Will's dad because he can sense that she's more than a mere human. After continuously avoiding his questions, she's thrown to her death. When she meets Mirren, it's under stressful circumstances. He then becomes her host in Penton to keep her safe. These two have a strong chemistry but Mirren keeps pushing her away. Until she offers to be his new familiar to keep him fed. Then the sparks fly. Meanwhile, the town is dealing with Will's dad and someone thought to be a friend trying to take them down. Oooh. I love it.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant surprise and much better than the first book in the series. The biggest change is that there is a lot more story and world development unrelated to the romance. This meant a more developed plot and a romance that wasn’t so overly sexualized. Also, both of the main characters, Mirren and Glory, had their own unique gifts that made them interesting as characters.

I still don’t like the whole human blood slave part of this world, but this book didn’t try so hard to convince the reader that the humans loved this role. I don’t like that the humans are called familiars and partnered off with each vampire like a weird multi-partner marriage. It’s just part of this world that feels off to me. Thankfully this story was more about the vampires and a lot less about the humans.

[Carolina Firefly · Rating 4 out of 5]

See, now, THAT’S how you deliver on your promising vampire apocalypse story! This is what Book 1 should have been, but wasn’t. The main difference? A great FMC. She’s got spirit, smarts, and serious badassery. And she’s decidedly not TSTL. The plot was great, wonderfully complicated vampire politics in the background. Only misses a five-star review because of:
1) an unbelievably simple rescue from a double kidnapping,
2) a disappointingly simple self-rescue from a second kidnapping,
3) the fact that there are THREE kidnappings, I mean, what??
4) an ending that flirts with being a cliff hanger. It’s not, but it’s annoying enough to count.
All in all, a great PNR/Urban Fantasy novel.

[NL Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good as the first.

This novel had all of the good stuff that made me love the first book of the series. The only reason I'm giving it four stars rather than five is that the ending seemed too abrupt to me.

I realize that a lot of my questions will be answered in the next novel, but I thought the author could have done a better job of tying up some loose ends than what she did here.

Still it's worth reading and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal romance.