AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Michelle Rowen's BLOODLUST (Nightshade Bk 2)

Title: BLOODLUST (Nightshade Bk 2)
Author: Michelle Rowen
Narrator: Cynthia Holloway
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Format: MP3 Audiobook CD
Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
List Price: $29.99
Publisher: Tantor Media
ISBN-10: 145265297X
ISBN-13: 978-1452652979



My Ratings

Plot: 4.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Originality of Plot: 4.5/5
Characters Development: 4.5/5
Ending: 5/5
Narration 5/5
Cover Art: 4/5
Likelihood to Recommend: 4.5/5

Overall: 40.5/45 = 90%


Synopsis

One taste is all it takes...

For those who feast on blood, Jillian Conrad is a fatal attraction. After being injected with a serum that made her blood both irresistible and deadly to vampires, she was used as a pawn to assassinate the vampire king. Now, the vampires want her eliminated.

Hunted and unable to return to her old life, Jillian desperately seeks to prevent the poison in her veins from killing her. And she must find a way to help her dhampyr protector, Declan, whose exposure to the serum has split his personality into one part uncontrolled desire, and one part stone-cold killer.

But an even greater danger is rising. The Amarantos---a secret society of vampires---are seeking the infant daughter of the slain king to complete their quest for true immortality. And if they succeed, no one, living or undead, will escape the darkness.

My Review

I really enjoy reading about Jillian, the reluctant heroin. She is just your run-of-the-mill 20-something temp secretary. She doesn’t know who she is or what she really wants to be. I actually see a bit of myself in her, as well. Jillian is thrust into the world of vamps and damps, and she doesn’t look back. She has accepts the role that she has been given, and strives to use her gifts in a more positive way then they were initially meant for. Her love life is a complete mess, and that is one of my favorite parts of this book. She cares for Declan, but she’s clearly drawn to Matthias.

My feelings for Declan aren’t quite as clear. He’s not the usual urban fantasy sexy hero. I give Michelle Rowen major points for going against the grain. He’s not tall, dark, and smoldering. Declan is strong, gruff, and loyal as his ties will allow him to be. I love him for his flaws, but sometimes his stubbornness makes me crazy. He feels that he need to be the one so single-handedly save the day. For this book most of all, I feel sad for Declan. He is forced into a situation that makes him do things against his own will. He is left no other choice then to go after those he loves and trusts. I clung to his moments of clarity, when he gets to be himself with Jillian. I hope to get more of those in the future.

Where do I start with Matthias? He might just be my favorite character of all in this series. He is the stereotypical sexy, cocky vamp. Just as soon as you start to believe that that is all he is, he turns around and does something selfless that you would never expect! I love seeing the emotional bits and pieces that Matthias hides deep down. Also there is nothing I enjoy more then a juicy love triangle! He makes a very valiant effort in seducing Jillian. I have to admit that part of me enjoys the time that they spend together. Can you say, sexy bathroon scene? Yes, please!

One of my favorite parts of this book is that us moves so quickly. Every time that I felt like I could catch my breath, Jillian would walk right back into harms way. I had a very hard time putting this book down, because of all of the action. I also love that Michelle Rowen does an amazing job misdirecting the reader. You truly believe that something is fact, and then you begin to hate a certain character. Next thing you know you’re completely shocked when the truth is reveled.

Cynthia Holloway, as always, lends a sense of high emotion, sexuality, and passion to her narration of BLOODLUST. She has such and amazing range of character voices, that bring this story to life. Her stellar performance brought this story to a higher level for me. She made this almost 9 hour audiobook fly by for me.

BLOODLUST, has a wonderful mix of dark adventure and steamy sexuality. It’s a must read for all urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers!


Nightshade Series

Nightshade (Nightshade #1) — June 6, 2011
Bloodlust (Nightshade #2) – July 19, 2011


Related Websites

Buy BLOODLUST on Audiobook
Michelle Rowen’s Website
Michelle Rowen’s Twitter
Tantor Audio Website