Bloodline Destinies by Iuliana Foos

Bloodline Destinies by [Foos, Iuliana]

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: February 13th, 2019

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Where you can find Bloodline Destinies: Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

In the year 2516 humans share Earth with elusive vampires and GeMs—a new species of blood-drinkers who appeared after the Flood. 

Months before his five-hundredth birthday, Theodor De Croix, Prince of The Old Coven, crosses paths with Vivienne. Torn between proving himself worthy of his bloodline and centuries-old beliefs about true love, he saves her life but rejects the idea that she might be sent to him by fate itself. 

Vivienne is a human scientist turned GeM in an accident. Body and mind forever altered, she struggles every day to adapt to her new life. Attracted to the man who saved her, but fearing his kind, she finds herself in more danger than ever. 

Caught up in a whirlwind of dreams and evil plots, both must confront their own demons in order to save each other, testing the powers of fate and love.


My Review:

I am going to start this review off with a warning. There are triggers in this book. Vivienne was tortured and abused in this book. What she went through before and afterward was a significant part of the plotline. So, if you are triggered by abuse, do not read this book.

Vivienne is GeM who has endured the worst kind of abuse. Escaping from her captor, she crosses paths with Theodor De Croix. Theo saves her from certain death. Vivienne is torn between her desire for Theo and her fear of what he is. Can she overcome her fear and her past? Can she allow herself to love Theo?


Bloodline Destinies has three significant plotlines. Vivienne and her recovery from abuse are one. Theo and his dance with Malvina was the second one. Malvina and her quest to avenge Ivan is the third one. I loved them all.

There were a couple of twists in Bloodline Destinies that I saw coming. They both involved Malvina. Even though I guessed at what was going to happen, they still surprised me.

I will say that I liked that the book took place almost 500 years in the future. I loved the whole backstory about the alien ship and the destruction it caused on Earth. Also, the entire storyline on how the GeMs were created was fascinating.

The sub-storyline that detailed Vivienne’s abuse and the aftermath from it broke my heart. Her strength poured off the pages.


I liked Vivienne. She had immense strength. I loved how she adjusted to being a GeM. Even though she was made into one the previous year, she was never allowed to learn how to be one (if that makes sense). I thought her fear of Theo was a little much. I could understand why she was scared of him. She had a prey response to him. But he showed her, over and over again, that he wouldn’t harm a hair on her head. That was the only complaint I had about her.

I did like Theo, even if he had a quick temper and came across as a jerk for 90% of the book. Don’t get me wrong; he wasn’t all bad. He came across as a grump. But, he did love Vivienne and was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she was safe.

Malvina was slimy. From her first scene, I knew she wasn’t good news. And man, she was bad. I understood why she wanted to avenge Ivan’s death. That was her dad. She did get what she deserved at the end of the book. She should have been killed off sooner (sorry for the spoiler!!)

As always, the secondary characters added an extra depth to the story. I liked how the author brought in Ana and Andree from book one but kept them in the background. I also loved seeing Thora. I was surprised by Serge and his actions. I didn’t think he would do what he did.


I thought that Bloodline Destinies was an excellent fit for the romance genre. I liked how the author took Vivienne and Theo’s romance slow. I liked that there were setbacks. I also liked that there was a love triangle going on between Victor, Vivienne, and Theo.

As for the sex in this book, it’s there, but the author doesn’t go into detail. It wasn’t until a key scene at the end that I realized that Theo and Vivienne had even had sex. I was confused by it for a minute then the lightbulb went on.

I thought that Bloodline Destinies was a great fit in the paranormal genre. I loved that the author had a new vampire subspecies. The GeMs were fascinating. I do wish that more detail was given about the GeMs. Like why they were so hated.

The end of Bloodline Destinies was what I thought it would be. It was predictable. The storylines were all wrapped up in a way that I liked. I am interested in reading Thora’s story.


I would give Bloodline Destinies an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Bloodlines Origins. I would also recommend to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Bloodline Origins.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Bloodlines Origins by Iuliana Foos

Bloodline Origins by [Foos, Iuliana]

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: April 11th, 2018

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Where you can find Bloodline Origins: Barnes and Noble | Amazon| BookBub

Book synopsis:

Determined to turn her fantasy into reality, Ana starts her journey to become a vampire. Along the way, she learns the truth about their secret society, discovers her prestigious bloodline, and falls in love. 

Not all vampires are accepting of humans and war looms in the shadows. An ancient tome reveals the vampires’ alien descent and sparks war. 

An army bent on eradicating her coven’s existence threatens her new world. Survival or annihilation will be in Ana’s hands. 


My review:

I have been reading a lot of paranormal romances lately. Before reading Bloodline Origins, I was getting burnt out on them. So, when I had the opportunity to read/review this book, I already had an opinion formed about it. Then I read the book and was surprised. The author took a typical vampire romance and added her flair to it. I loved it!!

The plot of Bloodline Origins was interesting. Ana was attacked by Ivan and his friend on her way home from the beach. During that attack, Ana learns that vampires are real. So, she asks to join them. Ana finds acceptance and the courage to overcome past hurts. She falls in love. But, there are sinister forces at work. A vampire with an agenda is plotting to eradicate Ana’s new family. Can Ana save her family? Or will she watch them be annihilated before her very eyes?


I connected with Ana. She was a well-written character who had to overcome her past to morph into the woman that she became in the book. Ana wasn’t perfect. She was a normal human woman. I did like that nothing seemed to faze her, well outward. Everything was kept internal.

I liked her reactions when she realized what she got herself into. They went from fear to doubt to acceptance. I loved that she had an opportunity to back out at any time. The scene where she carved her initials on Andree’s hand was the turning point for her. The author created enough doubt for me to wonder if she’d go through with it.

I loved Andree. He was a little bit intimidating when he was introduced in the book. But that went away after a few of his interactions with Ana. As much as I loved hem, I did think that he took some liberties with Ana. Like reading her mind while she was sleeping. And then having David scan her while she was asleep. I got a little peeved with that. That was the only time I got annoyed with him. Every other time in the book, he was perfect. He was patient and so in love with her that I got jealous!!!

Ivan was a creep. I didn’t understand his obsession with wiping out Emilia’s coven. I did feel bad for him, kind of, when Collin was killed. But it fueled his desire to end them even more.


Bloodline Origins fit with the paranormal genre. I was interested in the plotline about the aliens and how vampires came to be. It was an original and different retelling. I am interested in seeing where the author goes with that.

I also liked the different take that the author took on vampires. For one, if a woman was pregnant when turned, she could give birth to a vampire hybrid. But, it was only between certain weeks in the pregnancy. I also liked that the full blood vampires could go out in the sun, but they had to drink a serum. But, the hybrids could go out in the sun, and they didn’t rely on blood to survive.

The book also fits with the romance genre. The love that Andree and Ana had for each other was terrific. Even though it was Instalove, they were bonded within a few days. As for the sex scenes, which are essential in a romance novel, they weren’t graphic. The author spent no time on them at all. It took me a few chapters, after the wedding, to realize that they had sex.

The end of Bloodline Origins was interesting. I am curious to see if what was said will come true. I am also eager to read the next book!!


I would give Bloodlines Origins an Adult rating. There is sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Bloodlines Origins. I would also recommend to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**


I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Bloodline Origins.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

The Betrayer (Crossing Realms Series: Book 3) by Rebecca E. Neely

The Betrayer (Crossing Realms Series Book 3) by [Neely, Rebecca E.]

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: March 13th, 2019

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Series: Crossing Realms

The Keeper—Book 1 (review here)

The Watcher—Book 2 (review here)

The Betrayer—Book 3

Where you can find The Betrayer: Amazon | BookBub

Synopsis:

With the Second Rebellion raging in the city, Curtis Geary, the Keepers’ tech guru, receives a Compulsion for Jordan, a Betrayer ousted by her brood and left for dead. His orders? Obtain information from her that can save his clan—before it’s too late. Plunged into a war zone, cut off from his clan, Curtis quickly discovers this woman is no ordinary Betrayer. Not only does his Vitality energy inexplicably save her life, she may be the missing link in the Keepers’ quest to restore Similitude—the Betrayers’ manufactured weapon deadly to Keepers.

Despised by her own brood, Jordan’s mysterious ability and a wicked set of street smarts have kept her alive—along with the havoc she’s been forced to wreak on humans as a means of creating dark energy. Against his better judgement, Curtis is helplessly drawn to this enigma of a woman, who defies the logic of his trusty computers. Too, despite a lifetime of mistrust and her soldier’s survival instincts, Jordan can’t help falling for this at times awkward but genuine man who offers her what she’s always yearned for—love and an opportunity for a better life.

But in a race against time and a brood master hell-bent on destruction, love and loyalty will come under fire—within the brood and the clan. Can Jordan find the courage to embrace her future and find love? Or will she betray the clan and herself as the Keepers wage what may be their final battle to save the human race?


My review:

Curtis was expecting a Compulsion. With the Second Rebellion raging on around him, it was a given. It was who the Compulsion for that surprised him. It was for the beautiful Betrayer who was cast out of her Brood and left for dead. What happens when Curtis uses his Vitality to save her life was earth shattering. Jordan is key to ending the Second Rebellion. But how? And will she help?


I like to read paranormal romances. But I had become burnt on them. Too much of a good thing. But when I saw that The Betrayer was going to be available, I decided to jump on it. I had reviewed the other books in the series. I am glad that I did because this book was a perfect addition to the Crossing Realms series!!

I liked the romance angle of The Betrayer. The whole opposites attract theory worked well in this book. Curtis and Jordan couldn’t have been further apart. I liked how the author took those differences and made them work.

There were a couple of sex scenes. To be honest, I didn’t think that Jordan and Curtis would actually have sex. There was so much going on. But they did. It was hot.

The paranormal angle of The Betrayer was interesting. I liked that there was more insight into the working of the Brood. Also, Magpie and Jordan’s relationship was explored. As was Jordan, Abel, and her father’s relationship. I did enjoy seeing how Curtis’s Vitality changed Jordan. And Jordan’s secret. Oh wow. I wasn’t expecting that.

The end of The Betrayer was great. I liked how everything was resolved. But, it did make me ask more questions. Like is Zane going to be like Dev? And what about Jordan’s mother? I am also interested to see if there will be another book in the series.


I would give The Betrayer an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Betrayer. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.


I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review The Betrayer.

All opinions stated in this review of The Betrayer are mine.


Have you read The Betrayer?

What were your thoughts on it?

Do you believe that someone can change (like Jordan did)?

Why or why not?

Let me know!!

The Watcher (Crossing Realms Series: Book 2) by Rebecca E. Neely

The Watcher

Title: The Watcher

Author: Rebecca E. Neely

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: November 30th, 2016

Genre: Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

Number of pages: 242

POV: 3rd person

Series: Crossing Realms

The Keeper – Book 1 (review here)

The Watcher – Book 2

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Hell-bent on avenging his own death, former Keeper Dev Geary eagerly accepts when the Watchers task him with returning to the human realm to discover the secret for rendering Similitude—the very thing that killed him.

But to succeed in the seven days he’s been granted, he’ll need to work with the one human who wants nothing to do with him, and who he can’t help falling for—Meda Gabriel, a cagey, street-smart bar owner with a unique skill set, and maybe, the key to his mission.

With the clock ticking and the Betrayers barely a step behind, can Dev conquer his demons and find the answers the clan so desperately needs, with Meda at his side? Can love find a way, or will he be forced to abandon her and the clan, leaving them all to face imminent destruction?

My review:

The Watcher is the 2nd book in the Crossing Realms series. Told in 3rd person, this is Dev Greary’s story and oh boy was it a good one. Brought back from death, Dev has 7 days to convince Meda Gabriel, a woman with the power to read minds, to help Dev in his mission. He has to outwit Abel, Haenous’s son and now the leader of the Betrayers while trying to figure out how to keep them from making more Similitude and keeping the Betrayers from destroying not only Earth but the realm that the Watchers are from.

I will be honest, Dev annoyed me. He had such a huge chip on his shoulder about repaying a debt to Nick. He took unnecessary risks and one day it caught up to him and he was killed. Even as a Watcher in Training, he took those same type of risks. Like the beginning scene where he was climbing the mountain and was standing over the edge of the ravine while it was crumbling. But, the more I got to know him, the more it made sense he was taking these risks. I also could see why The Watchers chose him to carry out the mission.

Meda was a little harder to get a handle on in the beginning but as the author started to reveal what made her tick, I could see why she shut herself off from people. When she talked about how she got the scar on her face, I wanted to bawl (ok, I might have cried a bit). I liked that she took no crap from Dev. I really think that he needed someone in his life-like that before he died. Just saying. What I also really liked is that the author chose to include Native American mythology when they were making Flint. I thought that little myth was very interesting and it totally went with the story (click here for the legend of Flint).

The romance between Meda and Dev wasn’t a slow burn. It couldn’t be, seeing that he had only 7 days to do what he had to do. It was explosive and I loved it. Sometimes life doesn’t have time for a slow burn romance. The sex scenes between Meda and Dev were intense and off the page sizzling.

Now, I am going to do something I barely do but I have to talk about Abel, the Broodmaster of the Betrayers.

All I have to say is wow. Have to be Amazon PC, he is not a very nice guy and was determined to follow in Haenous’s footsteps. I did feel for him though, because it seemed like his father abused him (big flag to me was when he was starved by his father energy-wise) and he was always picked on by the other children because he always wore sweaters, even in the summer, because he was always cold. He felt that he couldn’t love Magpie (even though she was completely head over heels in love with him) and he wanted to destroy his niece, Jordan, who he considered a half-breed.

But any feelings of being sad for him were wiped in the last couple of chapters of the book. All I have to say is that I hope he gets what is coming for him. And poor Magpie. I wanted to cry for her. She didn’t seem inherently bad…..just following orders from her Master. I also felt awful for Jordan.

While Dev and Meda’s storyline was kinda wrapped up (I have a feeling that something that Meda said couldn’t happen has happened), the main storyline wasn’t and it looks like it is just revving up.

How many stars will I give The Watcher: 4

Why: This was an action-packed romance right from the get-go. The characters were a bit prickly to read and I honestly thought Dev was annoying in the beginning, but they grew on me and I grew to love them. The storyline was fantastic and I can’t wait for Book 3 (Curtis and Jordan’s story???) to come out.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, language, violence

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

The Keeper (Crossing Realms Series: Book 1) by Rebecca E. Neely

The Keeper (Crossing Realms Book 1) by [Neely, Rebecca E.]

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: April 27th, 2016

Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Suspense

Series: Crossing Realms

The Keeper – Book 1

The Watcher – Book 2

The Betrayer—Book 3

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

Nick Geary, jaded clan leader of human guardians, the Keepers, is doomed to love a human woman who’s forgotten him, time after time, for thirteen years: Libby Klink, a skittish accountant who’s as terrified of her recent and strange intuitions as she is of her mundane existence.

When Nick is ordered by the clan’s guiding force to seek Libby’s help in defending the clan against enemy Betrayers, romance sizzles as the pair forms an unlikely alliance in their desperate search to discover the key to the clan’s salvation–which Libby alone holds.

But a haunting secret could cost Nick everything, and in a race against time, both will be forced to choose between their hearts and duty. Can their love, and the clan, survive, or will the very forces that drew them together ultimately destroy them?


My review:

A mysterious group is meeting on the top of a mountain to discuss specific events. Events that could be disastrous to their people if not stopped. The only way to stop/change the events is to set in motion a series of events that could help them or could mean the end of their people.

Meanwhile

Libby Klink is stuck in the mother of all traffic jams, late for work, and about to have a massive panic attack. She has severe anxiety about driving because of the accident she was in when she was 12. That accident killed her mother. Not only that, but she is smelling different scents around people, and she is having dreams about people that she doesn’t know. She also is still recovering from the death of her father six months before. To put it mildly, she’s a mess.

As she inches along the highway, she notices a man walking down the highway, looking into cars. Looking for someone, and he is heading in her direction. When he gets to her car, not only does he know her first and last name, but he seems vaguely familiar. Lowering her passenger side window, he says that he is unarmed, and when she asks who he is, says his name is Nick Geary and that he needs to talk to her. Knowing her name freaks her out, so she lays on the horn. That attracts the attention of the guy in the truck in front of her.

While she is staring at Nick, she experiences something like a day-dream that involves her father and a fishing trip that they had taken when she was younger. She blinks, comes to the present, sends her would-be rescuer away, and lets Nick into her car.

They drive to Nick’s truck, where he tells her that he needs her help but can’t tell her what because he doesn’t know. Then he tells her to get into the car, which she refuses to do. It is when Nick tells her that her life might be in danger and explains a few things that she gets into the truck

Nick explains that he is a Keeper, and he protects humans like Libby from these evil guys called Betrayers. Betrayers feed off of human weaknesses and Keepers Vitality (a stone that they wear around their necks). He validates everything that he said by telling her of the memory of her father she had in her car. He promises to protect her; she believes him and gets into the truck.

As Nick and Libby have that conversation and Nick are taking Libby to his parent’s house, the bad guy is introduced. His name is Haenus Vickery. He is wondering why Nick was protecting Libby and wants to know what her deal is. As he walks, he remembers his mate, Genevieve, who I am going to assume died at some point in his past, and he is thinking out the details of the next step in the war against the Keepers. Haenus is hoping to overthrow them, somehow, so that fear and hopelessness reigned.

Nick explains more of what a Keeper does as they drive to his parents. He shares that his cousin and best friend, Dev, died after a Betrayer got him alone and stole his vitality, last week. Nick explains that the Watchers, beings that live in another realm parallel to the humans, send things called Compulsions to the Keepers with who they are supposed to help. He explains that Keepers live in Clans and that they are all connected.

Then a weird thing happens. Nick and Libby are hit by a car and approached by a knife-wielding woman who is screaming that they cut her off. Seeing no choice, Nick cuts across the highway median to make his getaway. As they are driving the opposite direction, Libby is full of questions about Nick, and he does his best to answer them. It was during that conversation that both get a compulsion about a woman in trouble in an alley.

On their way to help her, Nick discovers that she can smell things, like the whiskey that the woman had been drinking. She confirms that and tells him that only since her father died that she has been able to smell things. Libby tells Nick that she wants to help him, and he says no. But she doesn’t listen and is forced into a confrontation with Haenus. As he is draining Nick, she hurts Haenus, and that makes him stop. Nick, before the encounter with Haenus, kisses Libby and finds out something startling. She isn’t what she seems to be.

This book was not what I thought it was going to be. I felt that it was going to be a thriller/suspense book. Not a romance/thriller/suspense, and it took me by surprise. I loved it!!!

I could relate to Libby. As someone who has pretty severe anxiety, I liked how she was portrayed. I liked how her taking medication wasn’t used as a crutch but explained that she needed it to do daily things. She was such a strong person, and I thought the author did a great job of bringing it out.

Nick was perfect for Libby, and I sincerely wish that he existed in real life. He waited 13 years and had to deal with her forgetting him every time he helped her, which sucked because he was head over heels for her. I do think that the way that they finally met was a tad weird (hello, middle of the freeway), and maybe the love angle was rushed. But when the end of your world is about to happen, you can’t wait for months.

Haenus was a bad dude. My mental image of him was like a vampire except that he could come out during the day. I did also have a smidge of sympathy for him because his wife died, but that quickly got swept away with how evil he was to Libby.

The sex between Nick and Libby was hot, and dare I say sweet? I have never said sex was sweet before, but this was, and I might have wept a little during it because of the feeling between both of them. As I said, I wish Nick was real.

The ending was PERFECT!!! I couldn’t have ended a book any better, and the author did a great job in setting up Dev’s story.


I would give The Keeper an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Keeper. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**