Romancing the Dark Side

Legally Undead by Margo Bond Collins
Series: Vampirarchy #1 
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published by: World Weaver Press on May 27, 2014
Format: eARC
Pages: 278
Source: Publisher

Amazon • Barnes & Noble

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a word…FANGTASTIC!!!

Elle Dupree is on her way to living the perfect life. She’s planning a wedding, working on her Ph.D and her fiancé Greg is working for a prestigious law firm in New York. Things couldn’t be better. The last thing she expected was coming home to a blood thirsty vampire feeding on her soon to be husband and going all Buffy on the vamp, while a team of vampire hunters storm into her apartment to “clean up” the mess she made. In one single night Elle’s world is turned upside down as she learns vampires are real and her fiancé is now a member of the undead club.

LEGALLY UNDEAD is a refreshing tale of an unlikely, but bad ass heroine who has no supernatural powers but plenty of snark. What happens when Legally Blonde meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Elle Dupree, that’s what!

What I find so endearing about Elle is that she’s just a typical college student with no real fighting skills or knowledge of the paranormal up until that night. Her character proves you don’t have to be a supernatural heroine to be fierce! She’s smart, sassy and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in order to survive, gotta love her for that. Her geek girl ways and Dracula references are classic, she had me laughing out loud a couple of times, her inner monologue is entertaining to say the least. Elle is no damsel in distress and quickly adapts to her new life of vampire hunting with the help of her newfound friends, Nick and his fellow hunters. I love that she becomes part of Nick’s team and that they never treat her like a “girl” but as one of their own. Her perseverance is admirable, I don’t think I would have embraced her new life with such bravery had I been in her shoes!

There’s also a new possible love interest for Elle in Malcolm, the handsome professor who comes to her rescue when she’s attacked by her vampire-turned ex Greg on campus. I wasn’t expecting Elle to fall for Malcolm when she’s surrounded by a group of alpha men, but didn’t have a problem with their relationship…not everyone goes for the alpha, right??? The romance in this story is minimal, there’s just a little flirting and one smexy scene towards the end which I totally found awkward given the circumstances, but still enjoyed it (yes, I have issues!). Did I fail to mention that all of this crazy vampire slaying takes place in my home state of New York?! Well, the Bronx if we’re being specific. I don’t know if Ms. Collins has ever lived in NY but she does a phenomenal job with her imagery of the city, you feel like you’re right there in the Bronx walking alongside Elle!

The ongoing suspense, action and fantastic humor really makes LEGALLY UNDEAD a must read for fans of unsexy vampires and vampire slayers alike. It really stands out from all the vampire books I’ve read lately and trust me, I read a lot of vampire books! I enjoyed the whole blood sucking lawyers angle and that vampires are stripped of any romanticism, it’s a clever and fresh take on the popular mythology. Elle’s story is engaging from the start and the pace is perfect, I had a hard time putting it down but a girl needs her beauty sleep!

Margo Bond Collins adds dimension to the story with a thrilling mystery to solve, plenty of vampire slaying, multi-faceted characters and of course, some villains. There’s an unexpected twist at the end of this book that shocked me but also has me anxiously awaiting the next installment, I just hope I don’t have to wait too long! I can’t say that I had high hopes for this book when I started, I was intrigued by the description and of course the vampires, but didn’t know what to expect. That being said, I feel Ms. Collins delivered tenfold with her debut of the Vampirarchy series, I’ve found my new favorite vampire hunter in Elle Dupree!

The Scandalous Love of a Duke by Jane Lark 
Series: Marlow Intrigues #3 
Genre: Historical Romance 
Published by: HarperImpulse on April 3, 2014
Format: eARC
Pages: 336
Source: NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon • Barnes & Noble

Jane Lark has rekindled my love of historical romance with THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE!

Being the cover hussy I am, I will admit I was instantly drawn to this book’s cover while browsing through NetGalley, needless to say I was ecstatic when I was approved. Historical Romance is a comfort genre for me when I’m in the mood for a pick me up or have series burnout. It’s been a while since I read one that I didn’t want to put down but THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE had me glued to my Nook for an entire day! Jane Lark has penned a beautiful forbidden romance with a brooding, but swoon-worthy hero and a strong leading lady. The story drew me in early on and kept me turning the pages in anticipation. I’m not one to pick up a book mid-series so I was a little worried when I noticed this is book three in the Marlo Intrigues series but it easily stands alone. That being said, I can’t wait to read the previous installments and find out what I’ve missed!

THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE is the story of John Harding and his journey of self-actualization and love. Taken from his mother at an early age and raised by his grandfather, the Duke of Pembroke, John Harding grew up privileged but longing for the real love of a family. Searching for an escape he travels abroad in hopes of freeing himself of the demons of his past. When he receives a letter with news of his grandfather being on his deathbed, John decides to return home to face his family and assume his new role as the new Duke of Pembroke. What he wasn’t expecting was to fall into a world-wind romance with the one woman he can’t have, his childhood friend Katherine Spencer.

The sweet but complicated romance between John and Katherine is anything but predictable. Both characters have had their share of a tough past that has left them emotionally scarred, making them a perfect match. They have undeniable chemistry which makes for some steamy but romantic scenes. Katherine isn’t always a brave heroine, but I love that she doesn’t let her social status or lack thereof define her, she knows what she wants and never plays the victim. She’s loved John since she was a child and knows that his roguish ways will only get her burned, but she can’t resist him. John on the other hand is very guarded and has some inner turmoil due of his upbringing, but ultimately wishes to be a better man than his grandfather. Katherine’s understanding and tenderness brings out the best in John but even she has a long road ahead of her when it comes to changing his ways.

Their romance starts off as a sexy forbidden affair but I love that John never treats Katherine as inferior, even though he knows he can’t be with her. It was great to see this arrogant, charming ladies man transform into a man of worth with the love of a forbidden woman. Katherine’s pregnancy « Hide Spoiler was not a favorite element of the story for me, I thought it made it their HEA a little too easy, but was glad when John stepped up to the plate before knowing about it…it shows he truly loved her and that he would just marry her out of some obligation. I really enjoyed this couple and the struggles they experienced before the happy ending, it wasn’t too perfect and is realistic for the time period.

Elegantly written, THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE is filled with intense passion and intrigue. The story’s third person narrative really captures the raw emotion and growth of the characters. Jane Lark transports you back in time and makes you fall in love with her rich world and relatable protagonists. John and Katherine’s story is a fantastic introduction to this wonderful series (even if it’s out of order) and I can’t wait to go back and read the first two books. If you’re looking for a new historical romance to add to your reading list I’d highly recommend you give Jane Lark’s Marlow Intrigues a go!

Sidekick by Auralee Wallace 
Genre: Urban Fantasy 
Published by: Escape Publishing on June 1, 2014 
Format: eARC 
Pages: 173 
Source: NetGalley 
Purchase: Amazon • Barnes & Noble 

A fun, quirky, unpredictable read featuring an unlikely superhero in the making!

Former socialite Bremy St. James is newly estranged from her father (and his fortune) after uncovering some of his dark secrets, forcing her to start a new life in the big city and leave her beloved twin sister Jenny behind. Her number one priority is to get settled and get her sister back, but things haven’t exactly worked out as Bremy planned; she has no job, no friends and owes almost everyone money. With a looming death threat from her Russian mobster landlord, Bremy has no choice but to work in a shady nightclub called The Pink Beaver. Just when her situation is improving, Bremy is thrown into the spotlight while trying to be heroic during a bank robbery. Caught up in the mayhem, she accidentally interferes in the capture of the villains by the city’s official superhero, Dark Ryder. In true comic-book fashion, Bremy finally realizes her true calling and is determined to convince the hesitant Dark Ryder she’s missing what every good superhero needs, a sidekick!

Being the geek-girl that I am, I jumped at the chance to snag a copy of this eARC on NetGalley. Growing up idolizing Wonder Woman and loving Batman, I was instantly drawn to the awesome cover and the storyline. It wasn’t long before I realized this book was not so much about superheroes with powers and more about a sidekick in training. As does Batman, Dark Ryder relies on her fighting skills and techy gadgets to fight crime. Needless to say, I quickly had to throw all my preconceived notions out the window and accept all the outrageousness of SIDEKICK for what I think it is, an homage to a lighter version of superheroes. Anything goes when you’re dealing with superheroes, right?

Bremy, the main character, could best be described as twenty-five percent Bruce Wayne, seventy-five percent Robin. She’s a young woman who has lived a life of privilege and is still immature and innocent when it comes to the real world, her age isn’t really mentioned in the story but her voice sometimes reads as a teenager with ADD! I enjoyed her sarcasm and wit throughout the first half of the book, especially when it came to convincing Dark Ryder, but there were times where she was a little too flighty for me. I feel her backstory could have been explained a little sooner in the story with a little more detail in order for me to fully connect with her character and understand her motives. That being said, I think she has the potential to transition into the strong, kick ass heroines I love…with a little guidance from her mentor Dark Ryder, who honestly is still a mystery to me! I get that this is Bremy’s story but I wanted to know more about the infamous superhero (superheroine?) and was left wanting.

SIDEKICK is filled with over the top moments and an array of unique characters that leave a lasting impression. It was entertaining to be introduced to Bremy’s newfound friends: Queenie, the annoying neighbor, Bart, the over-confident techie and her potential love interest, reporter Pierce Stricklin, who I think has a strong Clark Kent vibe (in a good way). Their clique is very Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Scooby Gang! The overall tongue-in-cheek humor, the larger than life villains and outrageous twists fit perfectly in this superhero world where all bets are off. Once I got past the “OMG is this really happening?!” stage I found myself appreciating the story more and not wanting to put it down to see what would happen next. The ending was not as climactic as I expected and there are a few loose ends that leave you thinking there will be a sequel. This wasn’t a perfect read for me, but it was a fun and light-hearted story with just enough dark undertones to keep things interesting. I’m not sure what the future holds for Dark Ryder, her sidekick Bremy St. James and the rest of the gang, but I will definitely keep my eyes open for more of Auralee Wallace’s writing!