Limerence (Limerence #1) in Riley's Reads {REDHEADAPOCALYPSE SUPPORT GROUP}

Feb 01, 2015 Lo Bookfrantic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-review-ng

Okay, so I don't know how I feel yet. Perhaps I feel nothing right now Or too much?!.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

This was a complete mind fuck, a rollercoaster ride. Felt so much and yet It left me so sad and empty but wanting more if that's even possible.

The author makes you fall in love with Mia and Ollie, oh they are just absolutely perfect together. I LOVED them so much!

But then Robert a vampire gets obsessed with Mia and fucking ruins everything, I hate him .

I was a mess by 52% so much happened but k ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Mar 08, 2013 San rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It's not the kind of book that I would usually read. But I read it on good authority and wasn't disappointed. The story is dark, grim, romantic and beautiful all at the same time. The characters are bold, strong and memorable. I'd highly recommend you read this book, as it's one of the best books I've read in a while and believe you won't be disappointed. So what are you waiting for. Go have a read!!! ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Mar 08, 2013 Claire Riley rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-books, my-books, horror, vampires

Limerence is the first in a series of books. It is based around Mia Lawrence the lead female character. It is a dark paranormal romance with a twist. It fringes on psychological horror and is also 17+ due to how hot it can get!

11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 27, 2013 Adrienne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: surprised-how-much-i-like-it

You know what? This was a really good book! Am I surprised? Yea, I kinda am. I'll be honest here cause well that's what I'm supposed to do right? I 'usually' don't read vampire books. I'm not a Twilight fan. I don't get excited by fangs, blood, and sexy sparkly vampires. But if I'm being honest, I've read all the BDB books. So now when I do read a vampire book, I can't help but measure them up to that series. Not fair right? Well life's not fair.....just sayin.....

EDIT - So did it live up? Heck ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2015 Toni FGMAMTC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, vampire-s, angst, paranormal

This story, although contemporary, has an old feel to it. The vampires aren't as romanticized. There is an undeniable attraction between the female lead and the main vampire antagonist, but they do not have the same goal in mind. Really neither are in their right minds, hence the title. Everything that happens cannot be glossed over. He doesn't have pure intentions, and when his façade slips, she can see the monster underneath.

At times I found myself wanting to be on Mr. Breckt's side, much like ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2013 Becky Stephens rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, fantasy, romance

I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Well, maybe a little. But once I figured out what was happening, I was in too deep.

Though I’m not normally a fan of romance, I was instantly in love with Mia and Ollie, and awestruck by their apparent love for, and dedication to, each other.

Once I started reading Limerence, I couldn't stop. It is full of tension, suspense, and yes, even heartbreak.

I really liked the alternating points of view; it worked so well with this story. It allowed me to real ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2013 Melanie Marsh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow. I did not expect this book. It totally threw me for a loop. Actually, a few loops. I had read the synopsis, and an excerpt a bit before I had the chance to actually get down to reading it, so naturally, I forgot a few things. Boy, did I forget a “few” things!

This isn’t your typical “rich, attractive, mysterious guy moves into a small town into a mansion where the previous owner has an equally mysterious past, only for our heroine to find out the rich guy is a vampire and they fall madly in Wow. I did not expect this book. It totally threw me for a loop. Actually, a few loops. I had read the synopsis, and an excerpt a bit before I had the chance to actually get down to reading it, so naturally, I forgot a few things. Boy, did I forget a “few” things!

This isn’t your typical “rich, attractive, mysterious guy moves into a small town into a mansion where the previous owner has an equally mysterious past, only for our heroine to find out the rich guy is a vampire and they fall madly in love and live happily ever after. “ This is soooo not that book. It is way more than I originally thought it would be, and I can’t tell you how nice it was to read something so unique.

Mia and her landscaper fiancée are living their lives. She’s an art professor at a nearby college, and he is in the landscaping business. When a mysterious rich guy moves into the mansion located on what is called “the Island”, things get interesting. Oliver is one of the men working on redesigning the gardens for the new owner who wants everything pretty much ripped up out of the ground. When Mia comes to the house to bring Oliver his forgotten lunch, Mr. Breckt makes his presence known. He immediately starts to flex his supernatural douchebaghood muscles, and is practically humping Mia’s leg right in front of Oliver. Mia doesn’t understand what is going on, but she feels some kind of emotional pull towards Mr. Breckt, to which neither Mia nor Oliver is overly excited about. This story really tests their relationship and the concepts that true love can overcome anything.
In some ways this book was scary. Not jump out behind the curtains scary, but get into your head scary. For someone to feel irrational emotions and feelings towards someone they barely know, while they know in their heart that they love another, would make me pretty nervous. I guess it would be like being under some kind of nasty love spell where you think about someone you don’t have feelings for so much that it starts to make you crazy.

Mr. Breckt is straight up a stalker. Seriously. The guy really creeped me out. From the very beginning he didn’t seem like one of those vampires that have redeeming qualities that are just waiting to be realized by the leading lady and her love. This dude is crazy. He is obsessed with Mia and he really doesn’t seem to even try to hide it or make it look like he is doing anything other than being a crazy ass stalker. If some guy acted towards me the way Mr. Breckt acted towards Mia, my husband would have torn him to shreds.

I was caught off guard because what I thought would be part of the climax of the story, actually occurs about halfway through, so I had no idea what the end of the book would bring me. And holy crap did the ending get me.

Claire Riley did an amazing job of telling this story. I really enjoyed it from start to finish. She is from England, so there were quite a few times in the story that you could tell by her vocabulary the differences between English, and American English. There was only one element of the story that I had to look up on Google to find out what she was talking about. Banofee Pie. I had never heard of this type of pie, and having the sweet tooth that I do, I immediately looked it up. It turns out that this pie is an English dessert that is made with bananas and a type of caramel toffee that is made my heating up a can of condensed milk and has either a pastry crust or some kind of “crumbled biscuits”. It sounds delicious!

So essentially, I would really recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different kind of vampire book. The sex is minimal, and there is some violence, but not so graphic it would turn a reader away. There is some serious stalker-like situations, so if that is something that bothers you, I probably wouldn’t fully recommend it, but maybe check it out and see how it progresses before you decide if it’s too much for you or not.

Overall, it was a great book, and I am really kicking myself for having had to wait as long as I did to read it. I’m interested to see what else this author has to offer. She’s definitely got my attention!

http://fangfreakintasticreviews.com ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2014 K Dz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The excitement of lust and power of real love. You get both and so much more. Claire C. Riley has transformed the typical vampire horror into one of the most intriguing, erotic and mind blowing novels of late. She writes Limerence in a way that has so many details but so exciting and interesting that you don't want to put it down. It will touch every emotion. By the middle you are hooked and then the end, you are screaming more, more, more. I cannot wait for 2.
This is a must read! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2013 Eli Constant rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm still finishing Limerence, but I've unfortunately read a few other reviews that contained spoilers so I know what I'm in for as I continue reading through the final chapters. Below, I have tried to craft a review that is both vague and informative (as oxymoronic as that seems). These are my impressions of Limerence by Claire Riley.

Limerence is not without flaws, but those flaws have contributed rather than detracted from the emotional investment this reader feels. I'm not focusing on gramma I'm still finishing Limerence, but I've unfortunately read a few other reviews that contained spoilers so I know what I'm in for as I continue reading through the final chapters. Below, I have tried to craft a review that is both vague and informative (as oxymoronic as that seems). These are my impressions of Limerence by Claire Riley.

Limerence is not without flaws, but those flaws have contributed rather than detracted from the emotional investment this reader feels. I'm not focusing on grammar here when I speak of flaws (Limerence is nicely crafted and well edited). It is the lovingly-crafted characters, the mind-children of Claire Riley, that are riddled with flaws and thusly more real, more human, more approachable. Anyone who has been in a relationship - based on true love or otherwise- has experienced the occasional wandering eye- innocuous or intentional- and the poisonous guilt that follows. Mia's wandering eye, although not entirely her fault, eats away at her and forces her to question her innate goodness and faithfulness to Oliver. Of course, Claire’s Limerence takes the concept of wandering eye to the fantastical and ‘enth degree.

Throughout much of the storyline, Mia struggles with herself, both internally and externally, to remain faithful to Oliver. Robert is a convincing partner in crime. Everything about him calls to Mia- even when she glimpses a peek of his more sinister, barely-hidden nature she wars between fear and lust. Robert is born to hunt Mia- it is who he is, what he is- his natural state of being. I should have realized what he was at the beginning, but Claire artfully sidesteps the issue, letting the mystery of Robert survive until it was absolutely necessary and fundamental to the storyline to reveal his nature. There is a particular scene where Mia- half awake and struggling against the after effects of binge drinking- hears the sounds of heated arguing from the living area of apartment... and all we reader's 'hear' is Oliver shouting that he knows what Robert is... know who they are all and what they do.

Robert has his own struggle, trying to understand the irresistible draw to Mia. He eventually realizes that his vain nature propels his need for her. She is taken, loved by another man, unavailable. It is common to find that which we cannot have more attractive than that which we already own. His desire for Mia leads her towards the deterioration of her humanity and the loss of everything she holds dear.

Out of everyone, I found Mia to be the most real. Her response to situations normal (if sometimes misguided). She is transformed, literally and figuratively, into the living opposite of who she was. Love and good-naturedness are changed as she determines that she has no reason to remain kind and pure-spirited. The edges of this transformation peek into scenes- a song sung in a crimson room for Oliver... or is it for Robert... or is it for herself. Eventually, she embraces her monster. Claire leaves us hope, however, hope for Mia's reformation and rebirth into humanity. I can only imagine Limerence II will give us some satisfaction in that respect.

Oliver... Oddly became a least favorite character for me. His response to situations seemed sometimes spineless, his fight for Mia at times felt halfhearted. There was a well-executed juxtaposition between Oliver's character in the first section of the novel- strong, confident, a willful lover- to Oliver's development as the pages turned. Eventually, Oliver's fate is decided and I, as the reader, do not know if I felt relief or sadness. Oliver's character also proved a lovely counterpoint to Mia. She gained strength as he lost motivation.

I happily recommend Limerence to others and it is my hope that I have provided enough information above without sacrificing a new reader's ability to 'discover' the surprises and nuances of Claire's work. I will finish the last chapters, breath held- knowing what is coming thanks to *spoilers* from others (naughty, you - you know who you are! There's a 'hide entire review because of spoilers' option right at the end of the review text box!)

Nod to Claire. 5-stars from this fan. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review