A
Bargain of Blood and Gold
Midnight
Guardians Book 1
by
Kristin Jacques
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
A
novice hunter with a mission. A five-hundred-year-old vampire with a
strong sense of irony. A town plagued by creatures in need of saving.
When
Johnathan Newman arrives in Cress Haven, the last thing he expects is
for his life to be irrevocably changed. Sent by a clandestine league
of vampire hunters to investigate a string of murders, signs point to
a vampire lurking amid the townsfolk. Johnathan’s attempt to enlist
the locals leads him to an unlikely partnership with Vic, the town's
most eligible, enigmatic bachelor.
As
the pair work to solve the mystery, Vic’s secrets come back to bite
him. Revealed, the vampire fights his attraction to a man trained to
destroy him, while Johnathan’s emotions land him in the middle of
forbidden desires. Even if Vic isn’t the murderer, how can
Johnathan yearn for his natural enemy?
As
Vic leads Johnathan into encounters with terrifying beings straight
from children’s nightmares, Johnathan learns that not only is the
world stranger than he knew, but that those he once trusted have far
darker intentions that will place hunter and vampire at the center of
a conflict between realms.
Cress
Haven holds more sinister secrets than its resident vampire, a secret
so great, it could unleash Hell itself.
For
fans of Gail Carriger’s Supernatural Society, The Charm of Magpies
series by KJ Charles, Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh, and The
Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee.
**On
Sale for only .99 cents June 17th – 30th!!**
My Rating: ★★★★
My Recommendation: High.
(I received this book free from SilverDagger Book Tours in exchange for my honest review)
This book had a few things that caught my attention, the cover, the M/M romance, the hero and enemies forbidden romance, vampires, demons, and set in distillate time of upheaval. I had high expectations for this book, and from the description it looked like something different and entertaining.
On the expectation scale, lets say out of 10, in came in at a solid 7. There where a few places where I felt the book missed it's mark by mere milometers. I'm not sure if this was done because the author was trying to get book one out, and have it a set up for the next, or if it was a way to try and not make it appear like a insta-love type book, with over powered characters. It's a weird balance to find, and I felt like the author was almost there, and it does cause some frustration. This was also done in the world building as well, and it was done with not giving a whole lot of info on the MC and the side characters. But, I have seen this style of writing in other book ones, so I have a feeling we'll get more as the series goes on.
But, outside of those small inconveniences, I did very much like this book. I like the tone of the writing. It has this lingering darkness that kept me engaged and reading. The opening scene hooked me; especially when our MC's gets tossed out of the carriage and was pretty much told to "make it work". I felt like I was back in the military and being stuffed into a new position with no direction as my boss smile and said "you'll figure it out".
I felt your confusion and frustration in my soul Johnathan.
Vic, I'm not sold on him yet, but I do like his style, and I did very much like his and Johnathan's banter. I do feel like they're more "romanticish" scenes were awkward and felt forced, but again, as for the time period, and the face it's a M/M, I can understand the disconnect someone my feel if they are not of the LGBTQIA+ community. I understand it, as I am PAN. The feelings are confusing, and you spend a lot go time trying to hid them, force them down, or just give in. So though those parts may feel frustrating, just remember, this isn't your normal F/M romance, and the feelings and getting to the romance, won't be the same.
Overall this book is worth your read. I believe this is going to be one hell of a series to come and, I am invested. There is action, growing pains, forbidden attracting, and a sinister under-plot that I believe will become the driving forced of this series. I look forward to reading more about Johnathan and Vic.
This books gets my high recommendation and my stamp of approval.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
On the expectation scale, lets say out of 10, in came in at a solid 7. There where a few places where I felt the book missed it's mark by mere milometers. I'm not sure if this was done because the author was trying to get book one out, and have it a set up for the next, or if it was a way to try and not make it appear like a insta-love type book, with over powered characters. It's a weird balance to find, and I felt like the author was almost there, and it does cause some frustration. This was also done in the world building as well, and it was done with not giving a whole lot of info on the MC and the side characters. But, I have seen this style of writing in other book ones, so I have a feeling we'll get more as the series goes on.
But, outside of those small inconveniences, I did very much like this book. I like the tone of the writing. It has this lingering darkness that kept me engaged and reading. The opening scene hooked me; especially when our MC's gets tossed out of the carriage and was pretty much told to "make it work". I felt like I was back in the military and being stuffed into a new position with no direction as my boss smile and said "you'll figure it out".
I felt your confusion and frustration in my soul Johnathan.
Vic, I'm not sold on him yet, but I do like his style, and I did very much like his and Johnathan's banter. I do feel like they're more "romanticish" scenes were awkward and felt forced, but again, as for the time period, and the face it's a M/M, I can understand the disconnect someone my feel if they are not of the LGBTQIA+ community. I understand it, as I am PAN. The feelings are confusing, and you spend a lot go time trying to hid them, force them down, or just give in. So though those parts may feel frustrating, just remember, this isn't your normal F/M romance, and the feelings and getting to the romance, won't be the same.
Overall this book is worth your read. I believe this is going to be one hell of a series to come and, I am invested. There is action, growing pains, forbidden attracting, and a sinister under-plot that I believe will become the driving forced of this series. I look forward to reading more about Johnathan and Vic.
This books gets my high recommendation and my stamp of approval.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
Mother
of two, caffeine addict, sleep deprived book eater.
Kristin
Jacques writes primarily speculative fiction, dabbling with dark
adventures, monsters, mayhem, and the occasional sarcastic
zombie.
When
not at her computer spinning tales she is generally herding cats or
snuggling with her gremlins.
A
Multi Award Winning Author of Fantastical YA & Adult Fiction.
$25
Amazon gift card ,
Swag Pack
– 1 winner each!
Thank you so much for being part of the tour and the review!
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