Double Novella Reviews: A Killer First Date and The Strange Case of Finley Jayne

A Killer First Date (Drake Chronicles novella) by Alyxandra Harvey
Young Adult
kindle ebook, 40 pgs (I think)
Published Feb. 14th, 2012 by Bloomsbury
Purchased

Nicholas and Lucy have known each other for most of their lives, but now that they've finally admitted their feelings for each other, Nicholas wants to take her on their official first date-away from all the life-and-death drama that has surrounded them lately. Is it too much to ask for just a fun double date at the local carnival with his older brother, Quinn, and Quinn's new girlfriend, Hunter?

I love the Drake Chronicle books and so was very excited for this enovella.  It was quite short even for a novella but it was an excellent reminder of why I love these books so much.  

There's constant action through the whole thing because you know that Lucy and Nicholas cannot have an actual date without being attacked.  And same thing with Quinn and Hunter.  So they are all at a carnival and suddenly there are Hel-Blar (bad scary vamps) everywhere.  On top of that there's someone that has another kind of power that could cause some major damage.  So the dates weren't all kissy face, but more like kick some ass... 

If you haven't yet read these books I highly suggest you do so.  Talk about yummy, yummy men...

4/5 stars 

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles 0.5) by Kady Cross
kindle edition, 78 pgs.
Published May 1st, 2011 

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined...
An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

While this is a prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles this is a great one for 'sampling'.  As far as novella's go this one was pretty amazing because it completely holds it's own story within.   Sometimes you need to be introduced a bit more to a new world but I'm quite sure that even with knowing very little about this world you would be able to get a good idea by the brief descriptions provided.

I think I may have liked Finley more in this one then in The Girl in the Steel Corset, though it has been awhile, so perhaps not.   I just know I did like her, quite a lot!  She really has very little fear and has a strong sense of right and wrong.  She will certainly go out of her way to make things right, when they are wrong.

This is a short mystery (sort of) where Finley is determined to figure out why this old man wants to marry this young lady.  She's quite certain he has some evil plan.  And in doing her investigating comes upon some strange stuff indeed...

Loved this one!
5/5 stars!

Book Review: Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles #4) by Alyxandra Harvey

Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles #4) by Alyxandra Harvey

Paperback, 289 pgs. (UK edition)

Published Oct. 3rd, 2011 in the UK & as an ebook in the US

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Publisher *for review*

The Drakes and friends will be tested when an infestation of deadly vampires threatens Violet Hill. 
Lucy's cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy's parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn't possibly happen in this tiny town. But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn't understand—one that seems deadly serious. Although she won't admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But when she is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Christabel must cause more and more trouble in Violet Hill, Lucy and Connor finally fill Christabel in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

On the series as a whole, spoiler free for any of the books:

After finishing this book I kind of had an urge to squeal a little bit. Maybe that was because Alyxandra Harvey left us with a cliffhanger! But it was also because I just love this series so much! I say this in every review of this series, but this is not a series I would have picked up on my own. If it wasn't for other book bloggers I never would have given them a try. But I am so glad I did!

I love seeing the different perspectives and although they are each in first person their personalities are so distinctive that it's easy for me to know who's narrating (you know, if I somehow missed it at the beginning of the chapter where it says).   Seeing all the different angles makes this series so good.  You see the bad guys turned good, the good guys turned bad, the normal school girl who meets a vampire for the first time, etc.   And the books all have constant action but they focus on two people mostly who end up falling for each other.  So there's romance and kissing (no more than kissing) but there's just as much action and killing of bad guys.  Love it!!

The following contains spoilers for the previous books in the series:

This book is about Connor and Christabel.  But we got lots of Lucy as well.  And that was awesome cause I missed that girl!  We actually didn't get a ton of Connor which kind of surprised me.  But he was there.  The romance seemed a bit on the lighter side for this one, but that's probably cause there just wasn't much room for it there was so much action.  I would say that maybe I would have liked more Connor and more romance but it wasn't a big deal, I loved the book the way it is.

  

Some things are changing in this one.  Lucy's parents are back and they now know about vampires (that's not a spoiler, it happens before the book actually starts) but Christabel does not.  Lucy is training so she can defend herself and by the end of the book she's made some big decisions because things just aren't working out.  Don't worry though, her Nicholas are just fine!  

Christabel is a great new character but for some reason I feel like I still don't know her real well.  Maybe that's because so much of the story was Lucy's I feel like I just didn't get the chance, but what I saw I really liked.  She's a big reader, so I obviously can relate to her that way, but she's been through a lot so she had some hidden strength inside her to deal with stuff when crap hits the fan.

Okay, so I loved this book but Alyx, girl you are torturing us!  There is a cliffhanger at the end of this one that will have you screaming.  I want the next book NOW!  

Find the author:

Website

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Book Review: Out for Blood (Drake Chronicles #3) by Alyxandra Harvey

Out for Blood (Drake Chronicles #3) by Alyxandra Harvey

paperback, 304 pgs.

Published: Dec. 21st, 2010 by Bloomsbury Walker

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Purchased

 Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends-or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

 Spoiler free for any of the books in the series:

I love this series!  I wouldn't think it would be for me going by the covers and even by the descriptions, it just sounds kind of unoriginal.  But it's not!  This series is a blast!  It's full of awesome characters, lots of sexual tension, and loads of kick ass action.  They are all fast reads that move along at a very fast pace.  Once I start reading them I have a hard time putting them down.  If you've been hesitant because of the reasons I mentioned I urge you to at least give them a try.  

Spoilery for previous books in the series:

I loved this one!  We got most of the story from Hunters point of view so lots of the Helios -Ra school.  And actually most of the plot point has to do with the school as something mysterious and deadly is going on.  Hunter is determined to figure out why her friends are getting sick and why so many strange things are occurring.  She's also been noticing the uber sexy Quinn Drake, and although he's distracting he's turns out to be a great ally in figuring this mystery out.  

I really liked the way the relationship between Hunter and Quinn progresses.  I was very thankful that there wasn't back and forth about liking, not liking, etc.  It was fairly conflict free so I wasn't screaming at them to 'just get together already'.  Definitely a bonus for me!  

I just got Bleeding Hearts for review and am super excited to continue the story and figure out what's going on with Solange who is displaying some very off symptoms...

Find the author:

Website

Ruling Passion (Drake Chronicles #1-3) by Alyxandra Harvey Giveaway *Ended*

This Giveaway has ENDED

Today I have an awesome giveaway for you guys!  The Drake Chronicles has turned out to be an awesome series (I wasn't sure I'd like them until I read them!) and so I'm excited to share the news that the first three books are now in one volume & it's only $9.99!  Awesome deal for three books.  Plus, if you're like me your a bit of a cover whore and this cover is definitely awesome!  Thanks goes to Bloomsbury for this awesome giveaway!

MEET the Drakes:

A darkly romantic, irresistibly alluring family of royal vampire blood

READ Alyxandra Harvey’s Ruling Passion:

A haunting, humorous saga, now gathered into one juicy volume!

RULING PASSION

By Alyxandra Harvey

Publication date: September 27, 2011

978-0-80272-802-9 / $9.99 / 816 pages

www.alyxandraharvey.com

Bind up contains: Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, and Out for Blood

(Previously published separately as The Drake Chronicles)

"A refreshing take of the familiar teenage vampire drama . . . Harvey builds an engaging world of vampire cultures balanced wit a smart mix of darkness and humor."

—Publishers Weekly

“A fabulous and fast-paced read! The action is superb . . . this is the perfect

escape read."

—Romantic Times

Giveaway: *ENDED*

One copy of Ruling Passion by Alyxandra Harvey

Open to US only & no PO boxes

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends 9/23/11

To Enter: *ENDED*

Leave a comment with contact information. (email or twitter handle)

&

You may tweet for one extra entry. You can tweet the following and must leave a separate comment or it will not be counted.

Ruling Passion, the Drake Chronicles bindup (3 bks) is for #giveaway @candacemom2two 's blog. http://tinyurl.com/638sxq4

Alyxandra Harvey Videos

Hello everyone!  Like me, many of you are fans of the Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey and I wanted to share this new video with her where she shares just a bit about the newest book in the series, Bleeding Hearts.  Bleeding Hearts comes out this October.  To find out more about the book check out the Bloomsbury Bleeding Hearts page.  I'm also including the video where she talks about Haunting Violet.  I loved Haunting Violet and so found this video pretty freaking cool!
Enjoy the videos!