Bonded by Blood (Sweetblood, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jan 10, 2011 Larissa rated it liked it

Shelves: to-review, arc, netgalley

Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rating: 3.5/5

*SPOILER FREE

I was pleasantly surprised by Bonded by Blood, I wasn’t blown away or anything, but this was a very nice Paranormal Romance read and the beginning of a series that has a lot of potential.

Dominic is a vampire bent on revenging the death of his parents and the betrayal of his own brother. He has been hunting the leader of the Darkbloods for over a century and now he is closer than ever.

Mackenzie is an artis Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rating: 3.5/5

*SPOILER FREE

I was pleasantly surprised by Bonded by Blood, I wasn’t blown away or anything, but this was a very nice Paranormal Romance read and the beginning of a series that has a lot of potential.

Dominic is a vampire bent on revenging the death of his parents and the betrayal of his own brother. He has been hunting the leader of the Darkbloods for over a century and now he is closer than ever.

Mackenzie is an artist and movie location scout photographer. While working she stumbles into a wounded and crazed Dominic, who drinks from her Sweetblood and wipes her mind so she won’t remember anything.

However Dominic can’t just let her go, he feels the need to protect her from the Darkbloods, Vampires addicted to Sweetblood and that want to only feed directly from humans. While protecting her he realizes that he and Kenzie are actually Bounded and that he even though he wants her for himself, he doesn’t want to chance killing her, since her blood calls to him more than any other.

Ok, so I’ll just put it out there… Vampire is drawn by the smell of the woman’s blood and then wants to leave her because he is too dangerous for her, does this remind you of anyone? I immediately thought of Twilight, oh yes I am going there. The relationship between Dominic and Mackenzie for me was basically one between an older Bella and Edward. It all felt like a mix of Twilight, BDB and Midnight Breed, in a good way.

I loved the world built for this series and I am looking forward to more. I totally guessed a big mystery regarding this novel and I’m very glad that the object of this mystery will be the hero of the second book. Bonded by Blood had a lot of Hot Smex, but it was also full of action, I actually read this one in almost one sitting, but definitely in one day.

Bonded by Blood is not trying to invent the PNR wheel, but it does have all the elements I love so much in this genre. If you enjoy Paranormal Romance, I definitely recommend you check this new series out! ...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Dahlia (yadkny) rated it it was amazing

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Dominic (Dom) is a man possessed. He’s a vampire with a major vendetta to settle from a century long past. The betrayals are still fresh to him even after all this time and no one has been able to convince him to let it go before it consumes him. He’s not about to be swayed from his efforts in tracking the person responsible for a horrific crime against his family and a brother who is somehow involved. His life as a Guardian, vampires who fight against the Darkbloods, has taken him all across th Dominic (Dom) is a man possessed. He’s a vampire with a major vendetta to settle from a century long past. The betrayals are still fresh to him even after all this time and no one has been able to convince him to let it go before it consumes him. He’s not about to be swayed from his efforts in tracking the person responsible for a horrific crime against his family and a brother who is somehow involved. His life as a Guardian, vampires who fight against the Darkbloods, has taken him all across the world in his search and it feels like he’s getting closer. Fate leads him to the Pacific Northwest where instead of finding clues that will lead to the capture of his prey, he finds himself blood bonded through a series of unforeseen events. A Sweetblood has captured his attention and there’s no mistaking her desire for him as well. He try’s to fight it, but now he feels like he’s losing focus on his overall goal as his heart and body are trying to lead him back toward the woman who means more to him than he’s willing to admit, even to himself. He’s our incredibly hot, tortured hero who may be a little rough around the edges, but once you meet him, you won’t be able to resist.

Mackenzie (Kenz) is a talented artist, art schoolteacher, and a movie location scout. She’s also modeled nude for her best friend and mentor, Martin, set up a website to sell her own paintings and offer commissioned piece services, and continues to be a supporter of the Alzheimer’s Foundation since the illness has claimed her mother. Among her many personal and professional accomplishments, she knows at the heart of it all lies a fate that will one day come to claim her as it has claimed many in her family for generations. There has been no explanation, no evidence, and no stopping it. She accepts this and has decided to live with the sacrifice and consequence of being alone for the rest of her life since she refuses to create family only for them to suffer when she disappears. She’s quite brave in that regard and makes her presence known in the world through other outlets of expression in the hopes of creating an everlasting proof of existence. I really admired her characters strength in acceptance and to try to make the best out of an unthinkable situation.

There are many risks to consider for these two to be together, but the benefits far outweigh them. Dom and Mackenzie’s loneliness is among them. They no longer need to feel that the only way to keep going in life is to go it alone. They could be either each other’s greatest strength or greatest weakness.

Living in the Pacific Northwest myself, has given me a slight advantage in better capturing the scenery visuals. Ms. London really does a wonderful job in taking readers on a journey with words that would inspire anyone to want to visit the locations set in the story. She points out some of the best parts of the Pacific Northwest and you don’t have to live here to know how beautiful it is.

The pacing can seem a little jumpy sometimes from one chapter to the next. Before you know it days have passed in the story, which might shake your reading flow just a bit, but it’s quite easy to get back into character and scene modes. The last third of the book is pulse pounding and rounds out very nicely in the end with much to look forward to in the next installment to the series. The introduction of the spotlighted character for the next story weaves effortlessly into this one, which leads to many questions that I’m very much looking forward to finding the answers to. If the cover alone doesn’t grab you, then the story definitely will. I encourage readers who like a taste of blood mixed in with their romance to check out this new author and series.

Reviewed for Harlequin (HQN Books) via NetGalley:
http://www.netgalley.com/ ...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it liked it

Shelves: books-read-2011, genre-paranormal-romance, vampires

3.5 Stars

This review was posted at Under The Covers

This was one of those "It was fine, alright, nothing special" book for me. I'm sad to say. There wasn't anything memorable about it, AND I didn't like the heroine.

The following issue was just a personal problem I seem to be having with books. Again we have the premises of a "special kind of blood" that is addictive to vampires. Everytime I read that I think Twilight. Sorry, I do. But thank God the similarities end there. Mackenzie has that sweet 3.5 Stars

This review was posted at Under The Covers

This was one of those "It was fine, alright, nothing special" book for me. I'm sad to say. There wasn't anything memorable about it, AND I didn't like the heroine.

The following issue was just a personal problem I seem to be having with books. Again we have the premises of a "special kind of blood" that is addictive to vampires. Everytime I read that I think Twilight. Sorry, I do. But thank God the similarities end there. Mackenzie has that sweet blood, which is in fact addictive to vampires. She has the coolest, but could be weirdest at times, job I've ever read about. She is a location scout for movies etc. Basically her job is to drive around, find a perfect spot for a movie, take pictures, do research, and present it to her client.

She meets Dom, who is verra sexy, and he's an agent vampire, while taking pictures, at night, at an isolated cemetery. He has been on the trail of Pavlos, a bad DarkBlood vampire, who is kidnapping sweetbloods to increase his "drug trafficking" scheme.

MacKenzie was just, how can I say this nicely? A bit stupid, not a complete moron like other heroines, but she just made the wrong decisions at the worst times. She never understood why memebers of her family would out of nowhere disappear, so she lives her life now, or refuses to live is more like it, with the notion that at any moment she will disappear as well. So why bother going to school? Why bother dating someone? Why bother having friends? Why bother pursuing her art as a career? Oyyyyy And who does that to their name????

As I mentioned before, Dom is amazing. He is a wonderful hero, he first takes MacKenzie's blood while at the cemetery because he might've been almost dying, but he almost drains her and then has to feed her his blood. Which is technically illegal and creates a bit of a bond. Which we then understand is called a Blood Bond. Meant to happen between soulmates.

The rest of the story was actually interesting, there's enough mystery and action to keep you entertained.

I liked Lily as well. Love her bad ass attitude, her relationship with Dom and her scenes with the informant. All in all, it was a light, quick read. ...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Missyb rated it really liked it

Shelves: a-z-character-names-challenge

This one is about Dom & Mackenzie. She's a sweetblood human and he's a vampire & part of the Agency. Plenty of action, some sex & language, moves right along, humor. Plenty of characters, but not overwhelmed with the amount. Sweetblood human blood is like crack to vampires, and Dom and the Agency is trying to stop the sale of it and the kidnapping/killing of the sweetblood humans. Nice ending, but a little confused as to what happened to Alfonso & Lily. Maybe it was my e-copy. ...more

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