With a single act of unspeakable cruelty, half-demon Pändra Parthen permanently binds herself to Vârcolac warrior Thomal Costache. Stuck together for life, the two enemies must find a way to live with what cannot be undone. As time apart from her ruthless father allows Pändra to uncover her true self, she tries to mend the breach with Thomal. But he is stalled in seething rage, troubled by an inner turmoil even deeper than the abuse he suffered at Pändra’s hands. To free Thomal, Pändra makes a perilous sacrifice…and lands herself in the demon town of Oţărât.
Half-Rău Big Nỵko Brun is the one man who has a slim hope of breaching Oţărât. But Nỵko took himself out of the hero business after failing the people he loves too many times. He even abandoned Faith Teague, the woman who was destined to be his mate. Left to fend for herself while her world crumbles around her, Faith also makes a sacrifice that traps her in the violent hell of Oţărât. Now the fate of both women rests on Nỵko’s enormous shoulders, but he can’t manage a rescue without Thomal’s help…and then only if the proud Vârcolac can somehow find room in his heart for his enemy.
**Content warning: not intended for gentle readers, this book contains profanity, violence, and intense adult situations.
This series just keeps getting better!
The third book in this series, it is darker than the other two books, but I thought the darkness fit this installment. However, similar to the other two, Tracy expertly writes essentially two stories at the same time. For example, in this story, there are really two heroes (Thomal and Nyko) and two heroines (Pandra and Faith).
The love scenes in this one are more plentiful and more sizzling than the past two books. Holy smokes!!!
I love how the males in this town are genetically forced to “be the perfect guy,” otherwise they will be in physical pain: Dedicated, loyal, faithful, protective. The masochist in me enjoyed reading about Thomal and Nyko’s respective struggles, finding it almost endearing that they need their mates THAT badly. It’s a very unique trait to give them, and I love reading about it!
Across this series, Tracy is like the conductor of a 127-piece orchestra; she introduces a new instrument (or character), gives them an awesome solo, then fades them into the background, all the while making sure their sounds can still be heard. In other words, she has the main characters from past books as minor characters in this one. Not only was I thrilled to read their continuing stories, but I feel it kept the story interesting, injecting it with fresh perspectives every now and then.
I was ECSTATIC when I found out another book is being written in this series. I LOVE IT!!! To that point, Tracy took the story in a unique direction from not just “vampire-paranormal,” but also merging with the “other-worldly-fantastical.” I can’t wait!!!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
The third book in this series, it is darker than the other two books, but I thought the darkness fit this installment. However, similar to the other two, Tracy expertly writes essentially two stories at the same time. For example, in this story, there are really two heroes (Thomal and Nyko) and two heroines (Pandra and Faith).
The love scenes in this one are more plentiful and more sizzling than the past two books. Holy smokes!!!
I love how the males in this town are genetically forced to “be the perfect guy,” otherwise they will be in physical pain: Dedicated, loyal, faithful, protective. The masochist in me enjoyed reading about Thomal and Nyko’s respective struggles, finding it almost endearing that they need their mates THAT badly. It’s a very unique trait to give them, and I love reading about it!
Across this series, Tracy is like the conductor of a 127-piece orchestra; she introduces a new instrument (or character), gives them an awesome solo, then fades them into the background, all the while making sure their sounds can still be heard. In other words, she has the main characters from past books as minor characters in this one. Not only was I thrilled to read their continuing stories, but I feel it kept the story interesting, injecting it with fresh perspectives every now and then.
I was ECSTATIC when I found out another book is being written in this series. I LOVE IT!!! To that point, Tracy took the story in a unique direction from not just “vampire-paranormal,” but also merging with the “other-worldly-fantastical.” I can’t wait!!!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Thomal burst into Pändra’s bedroom without knocking and skidded to a halt.
Pändra startled to her feet at the desk where she’d been flipping through some paperbacks.
He did his own startling on the inside, his stomach see-sawing at the sight of her.
She appeared like she smelled now, so…fresh. Her black eyes were no longer flat and dead, and her facial structure had lost some of its toughness. Was it because she was sans immortality ring now? Or because she was their prisoner and cowed a bit? Or was it all an illusion created by what she was wearing: light gray stretch pants and a tank top in lavender, both of which showed off her nubile hotness to the nth degree and seemed way too plain and nice for her usual sleaziness. A wayward tendril of blonde hair had escaped her braid to curl demurely against her throat, and her bare feet displayed cute little toes squishing into the carpet that simultaneously made him want to crack them off at the stem and paint a cool, retro design on each nail—something that would totally fit her. And how the hell would he know that?
He hardened his jaw. He was sick and damned tired of feeling batshit crazy around this woman. “Go over to the bed,” he ordered her.
No reaction.
Not a single thing registered on the little ol’ wifey’s face, not surprise or a go blow yourself, not the hint of scorn or even a desire to smoke-check his balls. Nothing.
Thomal smiled sharply. Nicely done. But he was too good at reading adversaries not to sense the heightened tension in Pändra, despite her robotic outerwear. He prowled forward, circling her, tasting her scent in the back of his throat. “When I come in here to feed,” he said in low, distinct syllables, “you are to stand over by the bed, your back against the bedpost, hands at you side. Do. You. Understand?” He stopped in front of her, trying to make himself look threatening, but found himself distracted by the front of her tank top. Was she wearing a bra? The way her nipples pushed out from the cotton like bubblegum balls, he’d say not.
She shrugged. “Very well.” She took up position at the bed as he’d described, her hands wrapped around the post behind her. The posture thrust out her breasts, her tank top pulling taut across the two succulent, generous mounds, the sweet peaks, both nipple and aureole now, outlined against the fabric.
Ignore it, Costache. He strode up close to her. A misting of perspiration glistened in her cleavage, and he found ruthless satisfaction with that. This close, her scent wafted into the core of his brain like an opiate, settling the thumpity-bumpity his insides had been going through for, hell, days now. His upper lip quivered toward a sneer. He hated that she made him feel okay.
He leaned into her, stacking his hands one on top of the other on the bedpost just above her head, his chest crushing her breasts. He licked his lips, his blood thrumming a wild beat. His strike was purposely aggressive, his fangs plunging deep, the suction of his mouth rough. Blood poured onto his tongue, too fast, too much, drowning his cells. His knees shook from the rush of sensation. He couldn’t get over how good this woman tasted. Salty-sweet.Rejuvenating.Right.His.
Pändra squirmed a little. Not from discomfort, despite his lack of gentlemanly treatment, but in pleasure from the elixir he was pumping into her. She released a low moan and pressed closer. The answering force of his own desire nearly made him go bug-eyed with the effort it took to hold it back. He needed to get his fangs out of her. But the newly awakened part of him only wanted to fill himself up with her, so full he’d never feel wrong again. How hosed was that? This woman was actually poison.
Forcing himself to wrench out his fangs, he jolted backward, the rapid cadence of his breathing matching hers.
Her gaze was smoky with desire. She tilted her chin up, her lips soft with invitation.
Pändra startled to her feet at the desk where she’d been flipping through some paperbacks.
He did his own startling on the inside, his stomach see-sawing at the sight of her.
She appeared like she smelled now, so…fresh. Her black eyes were no longer flat and dead, and her facial structure had lost some of its toughness. Was it because she was sans immortality ring now? Or because she was their prisoner and cowed a bit? Or was it all an illusion created by what she was wearing: light gray stretch pants and a tank top in lavender, both of which showed off her nubile hotness to the nth degree and seemed way too plain and nice for her usual sleaziness. A wayward tendril of blonde hair had escaped her braid to curl demurely against her throat, and her bare feet displayed cute little toes squishing into the carpet that simultaneously made him want to crack them off at the stem and paint a cool, retro design on each nail—something that would totally fit her. And how the hell would he know that?
He hardened his jaw. He was sick and damned tired of feeling batshit crazy around this woman. “Go over to the bed,” he ordered her.
No reaction.
Not a single thing registered on the little ol’ wifey’s face, not surprise or a go blow yourself, not the hint of scorn or even a desire to smoke-check his balls. Nothing.
Thomal smiled sharply. Nicely done. But he was too good at reading adversaries not to sense the heightened tension in Pändra, despite her robotic outerwear. He prowled forward, circling her, tasting her scent in the back of his throat. “When I come in here to feed,” he said in low, distinct syllables, “you are to stand over by the bed, your back against the bedpost, hands at you side. Do. You. Understand?” He stopped in front of her, trying to make himself look threatening, but found himself distracted by the front of her tank top. Was she wearing a bra? The way her nipples pushed out from the cotton like bubblegum balls, he’d say not.
She shrugged. “Very well.” She took up position at the bed as he’d described, her hands wrapped around the post behind her. The posture thrust out her breasts, her tank top pulling taut across the two succulent, generous mounds, the sweet peaks, both nipple and aureole now, outlined against the fabric.
Ignore it, Costache. He strode up close to her. A misting of perspiration glistened in her cleavage, and he found ruthless satisfaction with that. This close, her scent wafted into the core of his brain like an opiate, settling the thumpity-bumpity his insides had been going through for, hell, days now. His upper lip quivered toward a sneer. He hated that she made him feel okay.
He leaned into her, stacking his hands one on top of the other on the bedpost just above her head, his chest crushing her breasts. He licked his lips, his blood thrumming a wild beat. His strike was purposely aggressive, his fangs plunging deep, the suction of his mouth rough. Blood poured onto his tongue, too fast, too much, drowning his cells. His knees shook from the rush of sensation. He couldn’t get over how good this woman tasted. Salty-sweet.Rejuvenating.Right.His.
Pändra squirmed a little. Not from discomfort, despite his lack of gentlemanly treatment, but in pleasure from the elixir he was pumping into her. She released a low moan and pressed closer. The answering force of his own desire nearly made him go bug-eyed with the effort it took to hold it back. He needed to get his fangs out of her. But the newly awakened part of him only wanted to fill himself up with her, so full he’d never feel wrong again. How hosed was that? This woman was actually poison.
Forcing himself to wrench out his fangs, he jolted backward, the rapid cadence of his breathing matching hers.
Her gaze was smoky with desire. She tilted her chin up, her lips soft with invitation.
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Bronze Medal winner for romance of the Independent Publishers Book Award (IPPY)
Book One in The Community Series: Beneath the streets of San Diego, California, a unique race of human beings called Vârcolac lives on the brink of extinction. Desperate to save their dying people, a brotherhood of warriors deploys to the surface to steal genetically superior women for breeding. A car accident changes everything… A computer hacked hospital blood test confirms that Dr. Toni Parthen carries a gene that’s the key to salvation for a unique race of human beings. Abducted to a secret, underground community, Toni is asked to do the unthinkable: breed with a man from a race called Vârcolac—a species that must consume the blood of other humans to survive. Then bizarre turns dangerous, because a new, mysterious enemy also wants her special DNA, and Toni finds herself in the middle of an all-out war to possess her. Destined to be alone… It’s the job of Jaċken Brun, leader of the Warrior Class, to keep the captured women safe from a demonic race of humans who rule a neighboring part of their underground world. His challenges multiply when Toni inflames the women into mutiny, and then there’s his biggest problem…his growing desire for the infuriating woman herself. Afflicted with a dark genetic makeup, Jaċken can never be with a woman. Until Toni uses her scientific ingenuity to find a way for her and Jaċken to be together. But then the new enemy faction unearths Toni and drags her to their hidden lair, where they’ll inflict an unspeakable cruelty on her to gain access to her valuable genes. It will take every warrior skill Jaċken owns to save the woman he loves, but only if he can find her in time….
I LOVED THIS BOOK! (And boy, can Tracy write a hero!)
The story was so full of twists even from the very first chapter. I thought I knew the direction it was going, (because I have read my fair share of vampire novels), but I was completely wrong. That's what was so refreshing about this book. Also, the mythology surrounding the vampires is unlike any that I have read before, which was also refreshing. I also like how not just the main characters were featured in the story. I learned about the lives of other minor characters who, hopefully, will get their own books in the series! Each male was SO alpha, and yet so devoted to his woman, family and duty. I also want to know what happens not only with the war itself, but with the singles who are still single at the end of the book! Jacken is one of my all-time favorite heroes. He is so dark and tortured, and yet it's clear that he has so much good in him that just needs a way to come to the surface. I would absolutely keep reading this series. Tracy is a very talented writer; not only is the book well-written in a technical sense, but she had me almost chomping at the bit to see what happened next! I found myself limiting the number of pages I read to make the book last longer, but before I knew it, I was done! I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, and I am now a HUGE Tracy-fan!!! ***A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*** |
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THE PUREST OF THE BREED
USA Book News Awards Finalist for Romance Book Two in The Community Series Plagued by enemies from above and below ground, a group of Vârcolac warriors fight a desperate battle to keep their secret town safe from invasion A different place to find her dreams… The night Marissa Bonaventure is saved from vicious kidnappers by special operative, Dev Nichita, her life is changed in ways she never could have imagined. Brought to the safety of an underground “research institute,” she’s offered a hefty sum of money to stay and work for a year, money that will allow her to fulfill her lifelong dream of owning a restaurant. But the surreal events that unfold in the strange community of Ţărână soon make her wonder if all is what it seems. When the shocking truth about Dev is exposed, Marissa faces an impossible decision. She loves Dev deeply, but committing to a Vârcolac is a forever proposition, and the only way she can be with Dev will require her to throw away her one chance to redeem a miserable past. The man he wants to be… The night Dev Nichita rescues Marissa from the claws of the Om Rău demon race, he knows she’s meant to be his mate. Lying to her about his true nature feels wrong, but he needs time to make her fall in love with him before he reveals that he’s a different breed of human being. When that secret finally comes out, their relationship is shattered in ways Dev hadn’t predicted. A 100-year-old betrayal rises up to threaten their future together—devastating every member of his family—and Dev’s own angry withdrawal becomes a nearly insurmountable obstacle. Then the Topside Om Rău enemy threatens a catastrophic breach of the hidden community, and Dev must call upon all his power as he races against the clock to save the most important people in his life.
I can't wait for the next book!!!
This is the second book in the series, and the way this one ended, there will definitely be a third (HOORAY!!!) Tracy's books are kind of like a 2-for-1 deal: she doesn't just introduce a supporting character and then never mention it again. She gives the reader an in-depth look at the supporting character(s), almost like a novella inside of the novel. This really had me invested in the collective characters and eager to read more about them, hopefully in subsequent books. She also involved the main characters from book 1 in book 2 and even continued their story. It was like catching up with old friends, and I was SO happy! I absolutely LOVED everything that transpired between Marissa and Dev, especially their first meeting (it was pretty funny. I think you'll laugh when you read it!). His unwavering devotion to her is so endearing, and the dialogue between them truly made me FEEL. Even though Dev is a big, tough warrior, life seems to throw him a few unexpected curve balls that shatters his world around him. I really felt for him, and if Marissa didn't comfort him, I would have jumped into that book and done it myself! Similarly, Marissa is forced to deal with some unfortunate issues, which makes them a perfect couple. Not many love scenes in the book, but it really didn't need them. The actual LOVE between the characters was engaging enough to read. The story kept developing twists that kept me guessing until the end. Heck, even the last sentence of the book has me guessing about the NEXT book! I love this series because all of the males are to-the-death devoted to their mates. Once he know who she is, he never wavers in his commitment: he doesn't ever WANT to. I love reading stories like that; where he finds his "one and only" and never lets anything come between them. This series definitely keeps getting better. I am looking forward to at least one more in the series, but I'm also very interested in reading Tracy's other upcoming books in other romance-genres, not just paranormal! ***A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*** |
Tracy is also the founder and creator of THE CHARACTER COUCH, a reader-focused website designed to help fans keep in touch with their favorite fictional characters. Each month a different reader-selected couple from a broad range of genres is brought into a therapy session to discuss a life challenge…and to reaffirm their love for each other!
To visit THE CHARACTER COUCH, please click here: www.CharacterCouch.com
Win an eCopy of The Bloodline War by Tracy Tappan (gifted via Amazon.com)!
***This giveaway is being conducted solely by Romance Novel Giveaways. Romance Novel Giveaways will be providing the prize***
@TracyTappan http://goo.gl/HE5L2R pic.twitter.com/1Kf35dBB4A
If you have not tried this series, you are missing one of the truly great PNR authors on the scene today. Every aspect is on pointe, and the chemistry between the characters will literarily affect your biorhythms. I am in awe of Tracy's talent.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more, Sebella! I can't wait for the next book!!! Have a great weekend!!!
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