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Thirsty
Thirsty
There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.
    Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?
As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.
    Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?
As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.
381 pages, Library Binding
First published October 5, 2009
13 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Bateman
60 books157 followersTracey Bateman is also published as Tracey Cross, is the Christy award-winning author of more than thirty titles and has nearly a million books in print. She lives in Missouri's Ozarks with her husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 17, 2009
If you read my reviews regularly, you probably know already that I rarely read the complete description of a book before deciding I want to read it. I started reading the description for Thirsty and saw that it is about a woman battling alcoholism and I knew I wanted to read it. Now, I have this little ritual when I am getting ready to start a new book. I like to read other reviews of the book to get a feel for how other readers feel about it. When I did that for this book, I kept seeing the word “vampire” and I thought ‘oh no’. I grew out of my vampire phase when I was thirteen. Well, then I read the note to readers at the end, I was touched by the amount of prayer the author put into this book. So, I opened my mind and jumped in.
Sometimes a reader needs a gentle shove out his or her comfort zone to be truly inspired by a book in a different way. Thirsty is one of those books. It has a unique premise and an edge to it you don’t see a lot in Christian fiction. I was amazed at how fast this story moved and how the author kept me engrossed throughout. Nina is just an average woman who has to face demons from her past and her present. She is involved in a spiritual battle not unlike the battles we all face every day.
Being a “vampire” book, there is some graphic violence. I generally do not like books that have that, but in this book, I did not find it overwhelming or overdone. I am pretty sensitive about things like that and it did not bother me at all.
Overall, Tracey Bateman has written a fantastic book. I am so glad I read it and did not let the vampire element keep me from reading it. This is more a book about spiritual battles and redemption than anything else. All the prayers Ms. Bateman prayed before writing this book were answered because it was amazing and surprisingly uplifting.
Sometimes a reader needs a gentle shove out his or her comfort zone to be truly inspired by a book in a different way. Thirsty is one of those books. It has a unique premise and an edge to it you don’t see a lot in Christian fiction. I was amazed at how fast this story moved and how the author kept me engrossed throughout. Nina is just an average woman who has to face demons from her past and her present. She is involved in a spiritual battle not unlike the battles we all face every day.
Being a “vampire” book, there is some graphic violence. I generally do not like books that have that, but in this book, I did not find it overwhelming or overdone. I am pretty sensitive about things like that and it did not bother me at all.
Overall, Tracey Bateman has written a fantastic book. I am so glad I read it and did not let the vampire element keep me from reading it. This is more a book about spiritual battles and redemption than anything else. All the prayers Ms. Bateman prayed before writing this book were answered because it was amazing and surprisingly uplifting.
February 5, 2011
Nina Parker’s demons live in a bottle of Brandy. Alcohol has taken over her life and the addiction has separated her from everyone and everything she loves. Divorced, on shaky ground with her kids and a Veterinarian career flushed down the drain; Nina finds herself in rehab. After the court ordered stint there, she is leaving sober and moving back to her home town of Abby Hills. The Hills have secrets though and something is lurking in the dark corners.....
Every hot selling book lately involving vampires or paranormal characters seem to jump off the shelves and it comes as no surprise that the CF market is becoming more open to the concept. To be honest to all my PR lovers out there, those of you who are looking for the next True Blood may not appreciate Thirsty. Yes there are vampires, but they are mild compared to the sexy, violent vamps that are often portrayed in this genre. And while I love a good vampire story, Thirsty was more focused on the entanglement of addiction and not so much the supernatural vampire that was used for metaphoric reasons.
Nina’s journey overcoming her addition to alcohol is enough to read this novel. The core strength of the story is of course Nina’s character, because while she is weak physically she has an amazing mental superpower- and that is determination. Her fight to win back her ex-husband and kids is encouraging for anyone who has ever fought to win back the trust of a loved one.
Markus, the good looking next door neighbor who longingly desires Nina’s neck portrays the metaphoric side to sin/addiction. While Markus struggles with his own thirst he does have many redeeming qualities. Markus truly does want to be good (-the tortured vamp-we’ve all read about him-) and he cares about Nina and goes to lengths to protect her. Along with Nina he feels ensnared by his nature.
I liked the concept of Batemans vampires- in which they are born into vampirism- passed down as a sin from the father just like Nina inherited her father’s alcoholism, but at some point Nina had to stop blaming her father for her choices just as Markus had to stop blaming his killing on being a vampire. I thought the parallels between them were written superbly and showcased a supernatural element that can appeal to readers who are hesitant of the vampire genre.
Every hot selling book lately involving vampires or paranormal characters seem to jump off the shelves and it comes as no surprise that the CF market is becoming more open to the concept. To be honest to all my PR lovers out there, those of you who are looking for the next True Blood may not appreciate Thirsty. Yes there are vampires, but they are mild compared to the sexy, violent vamps that are often portrayed in this genre. And while I love a good vampire story, Thirsty was more focused on the entanglement of addiction and not so much the supernatural vampire that was used for metaphoric reasons.
Nina’s journey overcoming her addition to alcohol is enough to read this novel. The core strength of the story is of course Nina’s character, because while she is weak physically she has an amazing mental superpower- and that is determination. Her fight to win back her ex-husband and kids is encouraging for anyone who has ever fought to win back the trust of a loved one.
Markus, the good looking next door neighbor who longingly desires Nina’s neck portrays the metaphoric side to sin/addiction. While Markus struggles with his own thirst he does have many redeeming qualities. Markus truly does want to be good (-the tortured vamp-we’ve all read about him-) and he cares about Nina and goes to lengths to protect her. Along with Nina he feels ensnared by his nature.
I liked the concept of Batemans vampires- in which they are born into vampirism- passed down as a sin from the father just like Nina inherited her father’s alcoholism, but at some point Nina had to stop blaming her father for her choices just as Markus had to stop blaming his killing on being a vampire. I thought the parallels between them were written superbly and showcased a supernatural element that can appeal to readers who are hesitant of the vampire genre.
October 14, 2009
Alcoholic Nina Parker has lost everything. But she’s just completed her ninety days of rehab and is ready to try and put her life back together. She doesn’t know if her ex-husband will ever forgive her or consider mending their relationship. So she takes her teenage daughter to her childhood home to try and rebuild that relationship as well as the one with her parents. But there are horrors in her past she isn’t ready to face and a murderer loose in town. Can she deal with all this and stay sober?
I’ve heard a lot of people talking about this book as a Christian Twilight. It is not that at all. Thirsty is a combination women’s fiction and Brandilyn Collins-like suspense. That said, this was a powerful story, vampire subplot aside. Whereas the vampire subplot fit well with the story and had some intriguing parallels, the book would have been just as good without the vampire subplot.
Nina’s story—her life—was so real it gripped me entirely. It got me thinking about my own addictions to busyness and work, my husband’s side of partnering with me in life, my father and grandfather’s alcohol addictions. I was overcome with intense emotions after finishing this book. Maybe that’s because it was two am… I started it at nine and had to stay up until I finished. Always a good sign of a powerful story. But through Nina’s husband’s points of view especially, I was able to relate to my husband a bit more. I was able to thank God for sparing me from my family’s generational addiction of alcohol and was able to consider the effect my addiction to busyness might have on my family. For that, I am grateful. Perspective is a hard thing to get in life, and here Tracey Bateman has done it with fiction by writing characters you become.
As to whether this book is a good one for teens, it depends on the teen. It is an intense book. But the characters are so real that any teen dealing with addiction—be it their addiction or a loved one’s—could benefit from the perspective this novel offers. A very highly recommended book.
I’ve heard a lot of people talking about this book as a Christian Twilight. It is not that at all. Thirsty is a combination women’s fiction and Brandilyn Collins-like suspense. That said, this was a powerful story, vampire subplot aside. Whereas the vampire subplot fit well with the story and had some intriguing parallels, the book would have been just as good without the vampire subplot.
Nina’s story—her life—was so real it gripped me entirely. It got me thinking about my own addictions to busyness and work, my husband’s side of partnering with me in life, my father and grandfather’s alcohol addictions. I was overcome with intense emotions after finishing this book. Maybe that’s because it was two am… I started it at nine and had to stay up until I finished. Always a good sign of a powerful story. But through Nina’s husband’s points of view especially, I was able to relate to my husband a bit more. I was able to thank God for sparing me from my family’s generational addiction of alcohol and was able to consider the effect my addiction to busyness might have on my family. For that, I am grateful. Perspective is a hard thing to get in life, and here Tracey Bateman has done it with fiction by writing characters you become.
As to whether this book is a good one for teens, it depends on the teen. It is an intense book. But the characters are so real that any teen dealing with addiction—be it their addiction or a loved one’s—could benefit from the perspective this novel offers. A very highly recommended book.
November 18, 2009
While reading this book I came across several reviews. Most of which are extreme opposites in their opinions. Some people were wanting a Christian Twilight, which I actually take offense to since I found so many Christian elements with in that story itself, but that is a conversation for another day. The only similarity here to that saga itself is the idea of a "vegetarian vampire", one who finds resentment in the idea of harming an innocent human. Other people think it is outrageous to the idea of having a Christian vampire novel, but the message behind the story is what makes it Christian. As in most things there are levels of evil within all of us that we must overcome. Be it something that we believe as from folklore or something that we know is passed down in our genetics, the importance of a lesson is learning from it and walking forward.
There were some people who stated disappointment with this novel after having read other Tracey Bateman books. Well that is not my opinion and as an all you can not relate this to any book she has written in the past as it is entirely in a realm of it's own. I have also read reviews of people who were enthralled from page one and could not put it down or turn the pages fast enough. In my case, I definitely was not disappointed, but I was not fully captivated either. This story is good, the lesson underlying is deep, personal and important to read. I do think that the character of Markus could have been more. In saying that I am not sure if I mean more developed or more page time. I just feel that there is a lot more to his character than meets the page translation. To be honest it was about page 200 where I was truly intrigued and excited about the story, but it continued well and I overall liked it. My personal opinion is that there could have been more, but I am just not sure of what. Luckily, there will be more books to come from Tracey in the future.
There were some people who stated disappointment with this novel after having read other Tracey Bateman books. Well that is not my opinion and as an all you can not relate this to any book she has written in the past as it is entirely in a realm of it's own. I have also read reviews of people who were enthralled from page one and could not put it down or turn the pages fast enough. In my case, I definitely was not disappointed, but I was not fully captivated either. This story is good, the lesson underlying is deep, personal and important to read. I do think that the character of Markus could have been more. In saying that I am not sure if I mean more developed or more page time. I just feel that there is a lot more to his character than meets the page translation. To be honest it was about page 200 where I was truly intrigued and excited about the story, but it continued well and I overall liked it. My personal opinion is that there could have been more, but I am just not sure of what. Luckily, there will be more books to come from Tracey in the future.
November 16, 2009
I've always liked vampire books, so when I got the opportunity to review this book for Waterbrook/Multnomah, I jumped at the chance to see how a Christian author would handle this subject.
In THIRSTY, Nina Parker is a woman at a crossroads. As a teenager, she underwent a terrifying event that haunted her ever since, though she doesn't clearly remember it. Now an alcoholic, she has lost the custody and the love of her daughter, Meagan, and her ex-husband wants no part of her. But when she is forced to move back to her hometown and move in with her sister, Nina seizes a chance to take her daughter along during her spring break. Meagan is interested in getting to know the parents Nina has given up on there, though she makes every moment difficult for her mother. A series of murders and animal killings leaving bloodless bodies and carcases alarm her, her sheriff sister, and the town. A mysterious neighbor seems way too interested in her. Is he a good man or does he represent danger? Can she stay away from the bottle which is calling her back to alcohol addiction, or can she trust those who love her? Should she be worried about the alluring woman who has her daughter and several other teenage girls enthralled with her yoga classes and unusual influence? Is there truly no recapturing the love her husband once had for her? Author Tracey Bateman brings this ale of obsession and redemption to a dramatic, unforgettable conclusion.
The book can be ordered at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalo...
This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Blessings, Laurie
In THIRSTY, Nina Parker is a woman at a crossroads. As a teenager, she underwent a terrifying event that haunted her ever since, though she doesn't clearly remember it. Now an alcoholic, she has lost the custody and the love of her daughter, Meagan, and her ex-husband wants no part of her. But when she is forced to move back to her hometown and move in with her sister, Nina seizes a chance to take her daughter along during her spring break. Meagan is interested in getting to know the parents Nina has given up on there, though she makes every moment difficult for her mother. A series of murders and animal killings leaving bloodless bodies and carcases alarm her, her sheriff sister, and the town. A mysterious neighbor seems way too interested in her. Is he a good man or does he represent danger? Can she stay away from the bottle which is calling her back to alcohol addiction, or can she trust those who love her? Should she be worried about the alluring woman who has her daughter and several other teenage girls enthralled with her yoga classes and unusual influence? Is there truly no recapturing the love her husband once had for her? Author Tracey Bateman brings this ale of obsession and redemption to a dramatic, unforgettable conclusion.
The book can be ordered at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalo...
This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Blessings, Laurie
November 21, 2009
I really liked this book. Not only was it a vampire story (which I'm really starting to love those) but it was an adult vampire story with a great story line! It kept my attention and I got really pulled into the story. Nina, the main character, is an alcoholic who's all but lost her family. I've never really known an alcoholic, but I'm sure that the struggles Nina faced are all too common. I really liked Nina, she'd made some mistakes in her life but she was really working on turning things around. Trying to regain trust in relationships that her drinking had all but shattered, and realizing that just because she was sober didn't mean everyone just forgave her. While it is a vampire story it's so much more than that.
The writing was great. For those of you familiar with my reviews you know descriptions and I don't always get along... This had the perfect balance of description, enough to show you what was going on but not so much that it covered the story up. Great Job! Also the writing was realistic, the reactions and dialogs were actually plausible, and it didn't feel fake. If I had to give any criticism it would be that it was easy to figure out what was going to happen. Granted I didn't know the means by which the ending would come, but I had a pretty good grasp. Although there was one major thing that I didn't expect and since I don't want to give it away I'll just leave it at that!
The writing was great. For those of you familiar with my reviews you know descriptions and I don't always get along... This had the perfect balance of description, enough to show you what was going on but not so much that it covered the story up. Great Job! Also the writing was realistic, the reactions and dialogs were actually plausible, and it didn't feel fake. If I had to give any criticism it would be that it was easy to figure out what was going to happen. Granted I didn't know the means by which the ending would come, but I had a pretty good grasp. Although there was one major thing that I didn't expect and since I don't want to give it away I'll just leave it at that!
November 18, 2009
I agreed to review this book because I was intrigued to see how vampires would fit into a Christian novel. And although the vampire subplot was well done, Nina's struggle with substance abuse was just so much more gripping. Thirsty is a compelling story of how substance abuse can wreck a family, but with strength, love and the will to overcome this addiction, one can be a better person in the end. Ms. Bateman's characters are so real and full of life. You feel as if their struggle is yours, as if Nina can be someone you know, even a friend.
I was taken in from the first page and read the whole thing through (late into the night). I also loved the title - I thought it was so fitting. There is some violence - but it is definitely not overly done nor overpowering to the story and although it is classified as Christian Fiction, it is not preachy. Thirsty is perfect all around. It is fast-paced, has wonderful characters, suspenseful and even has a paranormal twist thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed it and I'm sure readers of the genre will too.
I was taken in from the first page and read the whole thing through (late into the night). I also loved the title - I thought it was so fitting. There is some violence - but it is definitely not overly done nor overpowering to the story and although it is classified as Christian Fiction, it is not preachy. Thirsty is perfect all around. It is fast-paced, has wonderful characters, suspenseful and even has a paranormal twist thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed it and I'm sure readers of the genre will too.
August 25, 2014
"Thirsty" is a really, really interesting book. When I saw that it was a Christian vampire novel I just had to pick it up, because "what??? A CHRISTIAN vampire series?" Tracey Bateman's writing is extremely simplistic, very Dick and Jane basic sometimes, but I still very much enjoyed her story. It was a really different sort of vampire story. The parallel themes of vampirism (is that a word? I think so) and alcoholism were definitely intriguing. I think it could have been a bit longer. The plot could have been more developed and drawn out, in my opinion. It wasn't a perfect book by any means, but it held my attention and I enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next installment.
February 3, 2017
This is sort of a vampire book, but mostly a book about addiction. It was interesting the way the writer paralleled alcohol addiction to the vampires thirst for blood. Don't read this story expecting there to be a vampire romance though. I would have liked for the vampire aspect of the book to have been a bit more fleshed out, so that I could have cared about him just as much as I came to care about the main character. It almost felt like two separate books that were interwoven into one story. It worked, but they also would have been interesting independent of each other, especially Nina's story. Over all I really enjoyed the story.
January 7, 2011
The minute I began reading Tracey's book, I found the parallel between the thirst of a Vampire and Nina's thirst for alcohol. This isn't a Christian Twilight and there is no real gore in this book. Not like you might expect in reading a book about vampires. I should know, I've read a million.
Tracey writes in her section to the readers that she hopes this book glorifies God. It does. It's a deep dive into alcoholism and the effects on family, friends and even self. I wondered when I started it how she would deal with vampires and God. She pulled it off flawlessly, in my opinion.
Thirsty. A perfect title to a very good read.
Tracey writes in her section to the readers that she hopes this book glorifies God. It does. It's a deep dive into alcoholism and the effects on family, friends and even self. I wondered when I started it how she would deal with vampires and God. She pulled it off flawlessly, in my opinion.
Thirsty. A perfect title to a very good read.
January 8, 2024
This book wasn’t what I expected. Thought I was getting a book about a woman struggling with alcoholism after going to rehab and destroying her life. The book definitely contained elements of that, but it was also about vampires (?) and one vampires obsession with the FMC. It was also a Christian book (??) and the climax scenes were so quick they were over before you even registered what has happened.
Nina Parker is an alcoholic who has been drinking from a young age thanks to her own fathers alcoholism. She has destroyed her marriage to her husband (who I like), and caused an almost irreparable divide between herself and her oldest child, a daughter named Meg. When Nina and Meg take a trip back to Nina’s hometown, all the last histories and hurts unravel. The handsome next door neighbour who is really a vampire obsessed with Nina. Meg’s father, a former high school friend of Nina’s, who she also believed raped her on graduation night. A vampire coven in town looking to destroy Nina and her daughter. Grisly murders that keep happening. The list goes on. Almost too much happening in this story, which is why a lot of it feels so rushed I think. I didn’t hate any of the characters, but the story overall seemed like multiple different stories meshed together, that didn’t really go together.
Overall, a bit disappointing.
Nina Parker is an alcoholic who has been drinking from a young age thanks to her own fathers alcoholism. She has destroyed her marriage to her husband (who I like), and caused an almost irreparable divide between herself and her oldest child, a daughter named Meg. When Nina and Meg take a trip back to Nina’s hometown, all the last histories and hurts unravel. The handsome next door neighbour who is really a vampire obsessed with Nina. Meg’s father, a former high school friend of Nina’s, who she also believed raped her on graduation night. A vampire coven in town looking to destroy Nina and her daughter. Grisly murders that keep happening. The list goes on. Almost too much happening in this story, which is why a lot of it feels so rushed I think. I didn’t hate any of the characters, but the story overall seemed like multiple different stories meshed together, that didn’t really go together.
Overall, a bit disappointing.
May 2, 2021
This was my first Christian vampire story outside of those I write myself. That said, the vampire element is subtle and not very exciting until close to the end. If I hadn't committed to reading the book for comparisons and contrasts with my own projects, I might not have gotten to when it really got interesting. The characterization is good; if you took out the vampires, the story would still work as a decent mainstream novel whose Christian elements don't hit you over the head. The main character is an alcoholic, and the author plainly understands the difficulties that an alcoholic deals with, including the uphill struggle of sobriety. The nature of the vampires is different in some major ways from folklore and fiction as far as I know. I won't explain how, as I think that would be a spoiler. But it's not hard to guess the parallels clearly drawn between vampirism and alcoholism. An uplifting read rooted in the reality that nothing really good comes easy.
March 12, 2021
Some interesting ideas from author Tracey Bateman but unfortunately the pay off falls flat and is so brief, you might miss it entirely.
Main character Nina is very well thought out with a depth of emotion and I have lots of empathy toward her as a result. However, everyone else is inconsequential which is a real shame. This is especially true with Marcus who could have had a parallel hard road to follow but he is also flat and boring. What could have been? Too bad.
The pace is languid and delightful but when we finally get to the climax and some action - it seems like a hurried afterthought and leaves the reader scratching his or her head. It's all over in a blink of an eye and very unsatisfying. Wrapping things up with a tidy pink ribbon doesn't help the ending either.
Three stars for the Nina character but that's all.
Main character Nina is very well thought out with a depth of emotion and I have lots of empathy toward her as a result. However, everyone else is inconsequential which is a real shame. This is especially true with Marcus who could have had a parallel hard road to follow but he is also flat and boring. What could have been? Too bad.
The pace is languid and delightful but when we finally get to the climax and some action - it seems like a hurried afterthought and leaves the reader scratching his or her head. It's all over in a blink of an eye and very unsatisfying. Wrapping things up with a tidy pink ribbon doesn't help the ending either.
Three stars for the Nina character but that's all.
August 11, 2018
Real rating is 3 and a half stars. It felt like this novel would’ve been better without the vampire aspect to it. It felt out of place, and would’ve had a stronger message if it were just about Nina’s recovery.
September 30, 2018
The story delved into the life of an alcoholic and painted a clear picture of the temptation, the struggle, and the consequences. There was also a mystery to unravel, and I like that. But SPOILER ALERT! vampires? Really? That was a stretch. Too much for me.
December 7, 2017
Surprisingly good Christian book with a "vampire as metaphor" theme of redemption through love. I can't wait to read the sequel.
January 4, 2023
Very interesting book. I was surprised there were vampires in it! It certainly wasn’t dull, unconventional, but not dull.
May 1, 2023
Read the description but was a little thrown off when vampires started showing up. The entire book was just very weak. The little religious twist at the end was the final nail in the coffin.
May 12, 2025
terrible
September 26, 2025
First time reading this author. Really enjoyed it.
December 4, 2025
At times, definitely a 3/5. At times, a 2/5. But overall 4 for wholesomeness and ability to make a Christian vampire story??? Quick read.
May 2, 2011
Tracey Bateman's Thirsty was a vampire tale that I enjoyed primarily for its well fleshed-out characters and their relationships than for the vampire. The novel is primarily about alcoholic Nina Parker's struggle to rebuilt her shattered family, and less about the "250-year-old desire that rages like wildfire" advertised in plot summary.
To be blunt, the vampire subplot bites. But not in a good way.
The prologue (I normally skip them) was intriguing, and sets the tone for the subtle mystique surrounding the identity of Markus Chisom, the sexy next-door-neighbor with whom Nina develops a friendship after returning to Abby Hills with her angry teenage daughter Meagan. Unfortunately, grisly murders of both humans and animals coincide with Nina's return to the sleepy Ozark town she grew up in.
The first quarter of the story is devoted to building the background of Nina's alcoholism and its devastating effect on her ex-husband Chris "Hunt" Hunter, whose first-person voice punctuates each chapter with a short narrative about their marital life. The tragic love story between these two characters is what drives the novel forward, even after their divorce when Nina emerges from rehab and realizes she still loves Hunt.
Meanwhile, Nina must repair the damage to her mother-daughter relationship with Meagan, who is furious over the cancellation of her Spring Break trip to spend a week with Nina in Abby Hills. This task is further complicated by the appearance of Meagan's biological father, who approaches Nina with questions about her daughter that might sever the fragile connection between Nina and Hunt and devastate Meagan. Meanwhile, Meagan contents herself by spending time with her maternal grandparents and Carrie, a local girl who invites her to a yoga class taught by the exquisitely mysterious Eden, with whom Meagan is immediately impressed.
Real-life suspense dominates the plot so the supernatural element takes a whopping back seat, emerging as more of a folk tale that Markus tells Nina about the Ozark vampire legend. I was not necessarily disappointed by this--the tension between Nina and her family makes for edge-of-the-seat reading--but the slapdash ending involving Markus's history with another vampire felt too contrived by motivations that were never illustrated in the novel.
The story could have benefited from additional chapters delving into Markus's history with the vampire in question, but perhaps the most irritating puzzle was the bizarre "un-vampire-like" method of cutting open victims and removing their hearts that was never explained. Oddities like that can't just be dropped into a story without providing an explanation. I would even go so far as to state that the vampire element could have been removed entirely without damaging the story.
Fans of fully-fanged vampires will not find any sensual, erotic, or even horrific vampires here. (Even the Evil Vampiress is somewhat subdued.) The obscurity of the supernatural is so smoothly written that when "unexplained" situations arise in the story, they feel awkward and artificial as opposed to the page-turning prose describing Nina's addiction.
Still, all-in-all, Thirsty was a unique departure from your typical run-of-the-mill vampire tale that was well worth the read. If you enjoy vampires, definitely check this one out.
Note: I read the author's note dedicating the novel to Jesus, but I would not classify this story as "Christian Fiction." There is no hidden religious subtext except what readers may derive individually from Nina's alcohol addiction.
To be blunt, the vampire subplot bites. But not in a good way.
The prologue (I normally skip them) was intriguing, and sets the tone for the subtle mystique surrounding the identity of Markus Chisom, the sexy next-door-neighbor with whom Nina develops a friendship after returning to Abby Hills with her angry teenage daughter Meagan. Unfortunately, grisly murders of both humans and animals coincide with Nina's return to the sleepy Ozark town she grew up in.
The first quarter of the story is devoted to building the background of Nina's alcoholism and its devastating effect on her ex-husband Chris "Hunt" Hunter, whose first-person voice punctuates each chapter with a short narrative about their marital life. The tragic love story between these two characters is what drives the novel forward, even after their divorce when Nina emerges from rehab and realizes she still loves Hunt.
Meanwhile, Nina must repair the damage to her mother-daughter relationship with Meagan, who is furious over the cancellation of her Spring Break trip to spend a week with Nina in Abby Hills. This task is further complicated by the appearance of Meagan's biological father, who approaches Nina with questions about her daughter that might sever the fragile connection between Nina and Hunt and devastate Meagan. Meanwhile, Meagan contents herself by spending time with her maternal grandparents and Carrie, a local girl who invites her to a yoga class taught by the exquisitely mysterious Eden, with whom Meagan is immediately impressed.
Real-life suspense dominates the plot so the supernatural element takes a whopping back seat, emerging as more of a folk tale that Markus tells Nina about the Ozark vampire legend. I was not necessarily disappointed by this--the tension between Nina and her family makes for edge-of-the-seat reading--but the slapdash ending involving Markus's history with another vampire felt too contrived by motivations that were never illustrated in the novel.
The story could have benefited from additional chapters delving into Markus's history with the vampire in question, but perhaps the most irritating puzzle was the bizarre "un-vampire-like" method of cutting open victims and removing their hearts that was never explained. Oddities like that can't just be dropped into a story without providing an explanation. I would even go so far as to state that the vampire element could have been removed entirely without damaging the story.
Fans of fully-fanged vampires will not find any sensual, erotic, or even horrific vampires here. (Even the Evil Vampiress is somewhat subdued.) The obscurity of the supernatural is so smoothly written that when "unexplained" situations arise in the story, they feel awkward and artificial as opposed to the page-turning prose describing Nina's addiction.
Still, all-in-all, Thirsty was a unique departure from your typical run-of-the-mill vampire tale that was well worth the read. If you enjoy vampires, definitely check this one out.
Note: I read the author's note dedicating the novel to Jesus, but I would not classify this story as "Christian Fiction." There is no hidden religious subtext except what readers may derive individually from Nina's alcohol addiction.
June 28, 2014
The concept of this story is amazing: a recovering alcoholic and a vampire. Parallel concepts of dealing with a hunger/thirst that drives them to sometimes make irresponsible decisions. However, I felt the overall execution dragged the story's pace and in the end took the novel from a four down to a three.
Nina's struggle was sad and the beginning of the book - when she was at her lowest - immediately drew me in. I liked the idea of her going back to her roots to build from the base up. But rather than relying on the supernatural, it would have been just as nice to have the parallel between her own parents and her child rather than a vampire.
The shifting points of view were a little irritating. I understand that it was supposed to paint a more complete picture, but it might have been a little cleaner if it had been marked with more than a fancy tilde at random intervals. I also think that Hunt's various flashback points - while touching at times - were very much out of place and could have been left out entirely while still getting the main point across. It wasn't difficult to realize who Bateman was referring to, but it took me out of the moment each time I had to decide if this was Nina, Hunt or Meg's point of view and if it was past or present.
Although the vampire idea was a great one, it felt like it was added at the last minute and it didn't come across as natural. In fact, vampirism seemed to be trying to force its way into the story for about half of the book. For me, it made the conflict forced and phony; it also made me skeptical to read the rest of the story. By the end, I wished they had been left out entirely. Ultimately, I also feel that because the author was having Nina deal with the supernatural, she never was able to reach a full reconciliation with the parents, which would have been a nice alternative to what actually occurred.
Again, the idea of the story itself was wonderful. Piecing a damaged family back together after substance abuse can be incredibly challenging and painful for everyone involved. But while I love vampires generally, I was a little disappointed in their presence here; they seemed like a convenient way to reach a happy ending and it left the pacing and general feel at the end of the book like little more than a cop out. There were quite a few places that felt too convenient or were solved in a way that allowed Bateman to continue on, when it would have been better to expand.
It's hard to say who to recommend this book to; it had vampires, but they weren't a main focus for much of the novel. It had family, but somewhere along the middle of the story, it became more about vampire power struggles. It had a mystery, but it wasn't all that mysterious. And finally, there were Christian concepts, but church and God weren't really mentioned all that much. I'd say if you're curious you might give it a shot, but I'll warn you that it didn't fully meet my expectations and I wasn't incredibly satisfied, thrilled, or impressed by the end of the book.
Nina's struggle was sad and the beginning of the book - when she was at her lowest - immediately drew me in. I liked the idea of her going back to her roots to build from the base up. But rather than relying on the supernatural, it would have been just as nice to have the parallel between her own parents and her child rather than a vampire.
The shifting points of view were a little irritating. I understand that it was supposed to paint a more complete picture, but it might have been a little cleaner if it had been marked with more than a fancy tilde at random intervals. I also think that Hunt's various flashback points - while touching at times - were very much out of place and could have been left out entirely while still getting the main point across. It wasn't difficult to realize who Bateman was referring to, but it took me out of the moment each time I had to decide if this was Nina, Hunt or Meg's point of view and if it was past or present.
Although the vampire idea was a great one, it felt like it was added at the last minute and it didn't come across as natural. In fact, vampirism seemed to be trying to force its way into the story for about half of the book. For me, it made the conflict forced and phony; it also made me skeptical to read the rest of the story. By the end, I wished they had been left out entirely. Ultimately, I also feel that because the author was having Nina deal with the supernatural, she never was able to reach a full reconciliation with the parents, which would have been a nice alternative to what actually occurred.
Again, the idea of the story itself was wonderful. Piecing a damaged family back together after substance abuse can be incredibly challenging and painful for everyone involved. But while I love vampires generally, I was a little disappointed in their presence here; they seemed like a convenient way to reach a happy ending and it left the pacing and general feel at the end of the book like little more than a cop out. There were quite a few places that felt too convenient or were solved in a way that allowed Bateman to continue on, when it would have been better to expand.
It's hard to say who to recommend this book to; it had vampires, but they weren't a main focus for much of the novel. It had family, but somewhere along the middle of the story, it became more about vampire power struggles. It had a mystery, but it wasn't all that mysterious. And finally, there were Christian concepts, but church and God weren't really mentioned all that much. I'd say if you're curious you might give it a shot, but I'll warn you that it didn't fully meet my expectations and I wasn't incredibly satisfied, thrilled, or impressed by the end of the book.
December 3, 2009
Nina Parker is a woman experienced in failure and every fiasco can be traced back to one thing—the bottle. Her husband has left her and taken custody of their two kids. Thanks to her own negligence, she’s lost her job as a veterinarian. She’s a worthless alcoholic, or is she?
Sober again, no one has faith she’ll be able to pull the pieces of her life back together. Not even Nina. The thirst is too strong. Every moment is another challenge to overcome, another need to say “no”.
Only her sister, sheriff of Nina’s Arkansas childhood town, has offered Nina refuge and a job. With her alienated teenage daughter unwillingly along for the ride, Nina once again attempts to overcome the odds. But her hometown isn’t the peaceful little place it used to be. Maybe coming home wasn’t such a good idea?
After all, it’s not every day a person lives next to a vampire. Not just any vampire, but the one who’s waited over a decade for Nina to come home, to make her his own.
A rash of ritualistic murders keeps the Sheriff on her toes and makes the reader wonder…is it Nina’s pursuer or something else?
When I picked this book up, I had no idea it was about vampires. I chose it because of the author. I’ve followed Tracy Bateman’s writing since her debut novel and have enjoyed each one. She’s always been diverse in her genres but “Thirsty” takes the cake.
I never would have conceived of a Christian-vampire hybrid, but Tracy’s done it and despite the odd combo of interests, her writing is as strong as ever. Still, I feel compelled to say the “Christian” side of it was rather weak. The few blurbs about God could have been edited out without the slightest hitch in the storyline. And Twilight fans be warned. “Thirsty” has a relative lack of vampire intensity. Nina’s vampire is no Edward Cullen, but I imagine Ms. Bateman never intended him to be.
The story’s essence lies in Nina’s recovery and the parallels between Nina’s thirst and a vampire’s. These two alone are enough to intrigue and carry the reader through to the end. The author’s vivid portrayal of an alcoholic’s struggle was one I’ll not soon forget.
The characters’ unique movement on the time line adds healthy variety, and I felt Ms. Bateman did a fine job keeping it immediately clear to the reader who was “speaking” and when.
While I find it wiser to keep vampires on their own shelf, I can’t say this story didn’t hold my attention. It was certainly different, and these days, with the glut of same-song-different-verse kind of books filling the stores, different is what most readers go for.
February 2, 2013
Thirsty is unlike any other vampire book I’ve ever encountered. First off, it was a Christian book about vampires. I have to admit I was completely unaware it was considered a “Christian/Religious” book until after I read it and rated it on Goodreads. I was a bit surprised but then it sort of made sense, you know? All the talk about being saved and giving up alcoholism that Nina was faced with and how she found His way. Things like that just made more sense. Not that I was completely clueless to what they meant, I was just surprised at how focused it was at points about religion.
Anyways, I liked it. The characters were completely believable, honest, and likeable. I was able to understand Nina’s situation because the author’s descriptive writing helped me see what Nina was feeling and going through as she struggled to pick up the pieces of her life and make it work. We also got a few glimpses on what Hunt and Nina’s daughter, Meg, were going through and how they were trying to deal with Nina’s situation. This added a lot more depth to the story and I really liked how vivid the author was about each character’s emotions because I felt I connected with each of them.
The story was a little different than I expected because although it is technically a “vampire book,” it wasn’t really centered on that. Sure there were a few vampires, some good and some bad, and they all intertwined the story just right but really, the author could’ve just replaced the “vampires” with regular humans and made some of them a bit insane and trying to kill others and all that good stuff and it would have worked just as well.
There was only one thing that at a few times bothered me. At the beginning of every chapter and sometimes towards the end or even in the middle, there would be sort of a flashback. I really liked learning more on the characters pasts and how each thing contributed to how their lives turned out, but there were maybe a couple of times were I was a bit confused about who’s past we were reading about. After a few sentences though I would figure it out and it would be all good.
So the whole book has some great twists and turns that’ll keep you entertained until the very end. I was happy with the conclusion because it felt like real closure. I definitely recommend this to any adult-fiction readers who are looking to enjoy a good vampire book that has some religion, and is without that whole “Twilight-y” feeling.
Anyways, I liked it. The characters were completely believable, honest, and likeable. I was able to understand Nina’s situation because the author’s descriptive writing helped me see what Nina was feeling and going through as she struggled to pick up the pieces of her life and make it work. We also got a few glimpses on what Hunt and Nina’s daughter, Meg, were going through and how they were trying to deal with Nina’s situation. This added a lot more depth to the story and I really liked how vivid the author was about each character’s emotions because I felt I connected with each of them.
The story was a little different than I expected because although it is technically a “vampire book,” it wasn’t really centered on that. Sure there were a few vampires, some good and some bad, and they all intertwined the story just right but really, the author could’ve just replaced the “vampires” with regular humans and made some of them a bit insane and trying to kill others and all that good stuff and it would have worked just as well.
There was only one thing that at a few times bothered me. At the beginning of every chapter and sometimes towards the end or even in the middle, there would be sort of a flashback. I really liked learning more on the characters pasts and how each thing contributed to how their lives turned out, but there were maybe a couple of times were I was a bit confused about who’s past we were reading about. After a few sentences though I would figure it out and it would be all good.
So the whole book has some great twists and turns that’ll keep you entertained until the very end. I was happy with the conclusion because it felt like real closure. I definitely recommend this to any adult-fiction readers who are looking to enjoy a good vampire book that has some religion, and is without that whole “Twilight-y” feeling.
December 4, 2009
Thirsty is not your ordinary vampire novel, as a matter of fact, it really isn’t about the vampire. Its more about Nina, and how she is trying to get her life back together. She practically has to drag her teenage daughter to Abby Hills with her for a week. Nina had no clue about Markus being a vampire through most of the book. Its not a vampire love story, its more of a redemption story.
I think Tracey Bateman was really using the lore of the vampire in comparison to the addiction of alcohol. The thirst that drives both a alcoholic to drink alcohol and a vampire to drink blood. Also the fact that both were trying to conquer their thirst and to be better people.
I also like that she put a different spin on how one became a vampire. It was more like a disease that was passed down through the family. There was just something lacking in this story, maybe its because I am use to the more gritty vampire novels. (I have not really been a fan of Twilight vampires either) The book just was a little slow for me and it took me a couple of different tries to finish it.
For a Christian vampire book though I think she did a fairly good job of mixing Christianity along with a bit of urban fantasy to make it a nice read.
October 15, 2010
This wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't what it claimed to be, vampire fiction or Christian fiction. While the writer is a Christian author, it didn't have the overarching Christian themes throughout the book that most Christian authors do. If the preachesness nauseates you, then you will probably enjoy this book for its looser themes of redemption. However, for the average Christian fiction reader, you may come away disappointed. Twilight has as many religious elements.
As vampire fiction, this disappointed in much the same way. The vampires were sort of tertiary to the plot until the final forty pages. She claims the vampires are supposed to mirror Nina's struggles as an alcoholic, but we never get to know any vampire well enough to really see his struggle, or frankly Nina's. So they are just kind of there for almost the entire story.
As a story of a mother and daughter and a woman and her family reconnecting, this was actually pretty good. The plot kept moving along at a good clip, so it kept you reading. It was rather simplistic, but most women reading this can overlay their own struggles as wife, mother, daughter and sister over the story to make it a lot richer. Overall, not a bad book, glad I read it, it just isn't what it is billed to be.
As vampire fiction, this disappointed in much the same way. The vampires were sort of tertiary to the plot until the final forty pages. She claims the vampires are supposed to mirror Nina's struggles as an alcoholic, but we never get to know any vampire well enough to really see his struggle, or frankly Nina's. So they are just kind of there for almost the entire story.
As a story of a mother and daughter and a woman and her family reconnecting, this was actually pretty good. The plot kept moving along at a good clip, so it kept you reading. It was rather simplistic, but most women reading this can overlay their own struggles as wife, mother, daughter and sister over the story to make it a lot richer. Overall, not a bad book, glad I read it, it just isn't what it is billed to be.
Want to read
June 27, 2013Nina is a recovering alcoholic that isn't having the best time recovering. Wanting to make amends with her ex-husband, Hunt, and her two children, she does her time in rehab and moves back to her childhood town. Taking her daughter Meg with her, Nina begins to clean up her life in earnest.
But something that has been alive for 250 years is running rampant in the Ozarks. With a murderer on the loose, and her sister Jill (the town sheriff) trying to solve the cases in record time, they are all in danger. Struggling to stay sober from her addiction, and trying be be strong for Meg, Nina is unaware that her fight against dark forces may not be with herself after all. Will she realize the truth in time? Or is she going to loose her family despite her efforts to clean up her life?
When I plucked this book from my shelf, I had no idea what I was getting into. It wasn't until I was well into the story that I realized what was really going on. While this was the tamest vampire story I have ever read, the novel was redeemed in the story of Nina. I didn't see the need for the vampire twist in the book, nor did I care for that aspect of the story, but I was drawn to Nina, her family, and her childhood memories.
But something that has been alive for 250 years is running rampant in the Ozarks. With a murderer on the loose, and her sister Jill (the town sheriff) trying to solve the cases in record time, they are all in danger. Struggling to stay sober from her addiction, and trying be be strong for Meg, Nina is unaware that her fight against dark forces may not be with herself after all. Will she realize the truth in time? Or is she going to loose her family despite her efforts to clean up her life?
When I plucked this book from my shelf, I had no idea what I was getting into. It wasn't until I was well into the story that I realized what was really going on. While this was the tamest vampire story I have ever read, the novel was redeemed in the story of Nina. I didn't see the need for the vampire twist in the book, nor did I care for that aspect of the story, but I was drawn to Nina, her family, and her childhood memories.
May 24, 2013
Thirsty by Tracey Bateman was an interesting read as when it comes to Edgy Christian fiction, you never quite know what to expect. The novel started off with the introduction to Nina Parker and herself being labelled like her father -the town drunk. We then see her flash forward where she is now a mother with two children and a serious drinking problem. When things go from bad to worse, Nina finds herself in rehab- will she be able to last it out this time or will it be like the million of times before where she quickly falls prey to old habits ? Realising she needs to move on , Nina decides along with her daughter to take a trip back to her hometown- somewhere she hasn't stepped foot in the last seventeen years as the last time she was here - she was raped. When Nina arrives with her daughter a series of murders begin, are they connected with Nina ? This is where things take a twist as Tracey adds in a hint of Supernatural -think the Twilight Saga tale of The Cold Ones and the Warm Blooded that Jacob tells Bella in the first movie/book.
With something for everyone from Drugs to Alcohol to Murder to Vampires - Thirsty by Tracey Bateman is one helluva ride and keeps the readers entertained
With something for everyone from Drugs to Alcohol to Murder to Vampires - Thirsty by Tracey Bateman is one helluva ride and keeps the readers entertained
February 22, 2010
When I first started this "vampire" book, I had no idea that it would encompass God and redemption. I had read the four books in the Twilight series and thought that author Tracey Bateman had merely jumped on board the vampire train and written another book in that genre.
Thirsty is much more than a vampire book. It talks about the pains of addiction and family secrets. It explores the issues of free will vs. determinism. Are we free to make choices about behavior or are we destined to succumb to temptation?
Bateman cleverly explores the issues of mother/daughter relationships in a way that is both realistic and engrossing. Will Nina be able to repair her relationship with her daughter? Will Nina's daughter be able to forgive her mother for being an alcoholic?
Running parallel to Nina's story is the stuggle of Marcus, a vampire with an obsession. He like Nina is "thirsty" for the forbidden. Is his struggle similar to Nina's or are they completely different?
If you enjoy a riveting tale that explores compulsive behavior both in real life and in the supernatural world, Thirsty is a great read.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads.com.
Thirsty is much more than a vampire book. It talks about the pains of addiction and family secrets. It explores the issues of free will vs. determinism. Are we free to make choices about behavior or are we destined to succumb to temptation?
Bateman cleverly explores the issues of mother/daughter relationships in a way that is both realistic and engrossing. Will Nina be able to repair her relationship with her daughter? Will Nina's daughter be able to forgive her mother for being an alcoholic?
Running parallel to Nina's story is the stuggle of Marcus, a vampire with an obsession. He like Nina is "thirsty" for the forbidden. Is his struggle similar to Nina's or are they completely different?
If you enjoy a riveting tale that explores compulsive behavior both in real life and in the supernatural world, Thirsty is a great read.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads.com.
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