REVIEW, Vampire Beach 1&2

Seduction and supernatural....

    Prod dets

Bloodlust & Initiation

Series: Vampire Beach, omnibus 1 & 2

Pub:  2008, Red Fox (Random House)

     [Individually published, 2006]

Author: Alex Duval

Genre: paranormal romance

Format: paperback (mid); 435pp w/ 37 chapters

Age Range: YA

            Synopsis

Sienna’s dark hair was glossier than he’d ever seen it, her skin was clear and creamy, almost luminous, and her lips glowed a deep rose red that he didn’t think came from lipstick. She was stunning, spectacular, impossible beautiful! Jason realized he was staring. ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘Sienna, you can tell me anything.’ and then Sienna smiled, slowly revealing a pair of very white, very sharp, and very real fangs.

Jason has just moved to Malibu – home to rich kids and fabulous parties. He’s flattered to be included – and very flattered by the interest of the stunning Sienna. But Sienna and her friends hide a dark secret...and Jason is risking his life by falling for her.

            Thoughts

I know doing each book individually would take more time out of my schedule but they aren’t long books so why not out them together. It’s how I read them; it’s how there set up.

I read this series....if I can remember, before—no, after?—no, before Evernight series (honestly I really can’t remember but it’s up there).

I know I really liked this series, like at that it’s from the males’ point of view. It was my first series (books) with a male main character. I really liked that.

Though it’s annoying...is this written by a woman or a man?? I actually really want to know this answer. I don’t know if it will change anything, but it’s something that’s caught in my head, especially since everything is being quite cryptic about the whole thing.

I really liked—like—this. Like the thought, like the way....

Anyway let’s get into the books.

Bloodlust

Jason Freeman is stoked when his family relocates to exclusive DeVere Heights, Malibu. The in-crowd at his posh new high school is surprisingly friendly – soon Jason’s hitting all the best parties. He even meets the token hot-but-unattainable girl.

Determined to enjoy his almost postcard-perfect new life, Jason tries hard to ignore the many strange things going down in DeVere Heights. But then a girl washes up dead the morning after one off-the-hook party – and with no explanation but a suspicious-looking bite mite. Now Jason has to admit that what you don’t want to know can hurt you.

 

Jason and his family moved to Malibu from Michigan (it’s a point in the series). His new to the gated area. New to school.

Basically he meets Adam; they become close off the bat. Jason gets onto swim team, meets the ‘popular/pretty’ people, and learns they are vampires.

            I actually really like this point.

Adam tell Jason, they make a list of something and then Jason....just does and asks Sienna ....and she just admits it—though this I think is because of him more than anything.

Bloodlust is a little slow for my liking and honestly if it wasn’t for the fact that this book is coupled with the next I probably wouldn’t have continued.

As it was this first book, on both the first read, honestly this one two, I didn’t read line to line. I just skimmed it (though think on it know, I’m more than sure I read less the first time, skipping from Jason’s second body dump/comfort Sienna to the end when he puts himself on the line, even though he knew he’d probably die.

We met the characters of the series in this book. We don’t see them as friends, pre say, because they just don’t swing that way with humans (understandable, it’s a big secret to keep from friends). They are a little larger than life, but friendly. And Jason swooning all over Sienna was actually fun to watch and makes you root for them kids to work it out.

Initiation

Jason Freeman is getting the hang of DeVere Heights. Then life from his flyover past pays an unexpected visit in the form of his old friend Tyler. Jason's surprised -- but psyched to see a familiar face.

Having his friend around turns out to be a downer -- especially when Jason realizes that Tyler is running from some kind of crisis. But Tyler isn't in on DeVere Heights's little secret. Now instead of escaping his problem, he's about to put himself in mortal danger. Literally.

Tyler—Jason’s best mate from back Michigan way—is in town, though he isn’t looking very good.

He’s also hiding something huge that is the whole point to this story, so my time here is up.

Nah, though I’m not going to go any further into the series I will say that this book has points and clues for reasons to come. It also goes deeper into the vampire world letting is see them as they are (sorta).

Jason and Adam (thanks to Jason) get tight in the vampire circle, though it’s still very ‘them’ and ‘us’.

This book gets us—Jason—a step closer to sienna, in a unhonest way that, as now, makes it both a ‘go for it, honey, let Jason have her’ and wanting to ‘slap ya for making on your friends girl’ (yeah, I know, its dated, but its valid) though the latter could be more of a series thing and the fact that we don’t know Brad that well in this book yet. Though I do more because of later ones with play a little with my thoughts around how I feel about this.

Though, really, it’s the same. You want Jason to get the girl but hate on him just a little for the way his heading (but this is getting a little into shit).

Jason is fully thrown into the vampire world, putting his life on the line for his mate Tyler. He learns some shocking—but understandable—truths that help things a little and changes opinions.

This is the book that got me into the series. This is the one that made me fall in love with Jason and need the rest of his story.

This is my favourite one. I loved reading it the first time and drank in every word this time.

Series

[tb], [tb], Ritual, Legacy, High Stakes, Hunted.

☼☼☼