The Vampire Narcise (Early Review)

The Vampire Narcise by Colleen Gleason

The Regency Draculia #3

Regency England stands defiant against Napoleon.

But battles among men mean little to those who live forever – especially when the Dracule are waging their own war.

Skilled in the seduction of men, both mortal and immortal, Narcise Moldavi is the greatest weapon in her twisted brother's war among the Dracule. Until she falls for Giordan Cale.

Her first searing encounter with Giordan brands them with a passionate love. But Giordan's vow to help Narcise escape her brother's rule is followed by a betrayal more agonizing than sunlight.

Wounded but determined, Narcise ensnares vampire hunter Chas Woodmore in her quest for revenge and to reclaim her life. He wants her, worships her, will kill for her. And the Dracule never forget a wrong – nor do they forgive.

Narcise has been captive since her brother tricked her into turning Dracule. She's been subjected to horrors and constantly has to win sword battles for the right to sleep free of the men who force themselves on her. She's kept her heart in an impenetrable fortress, but all that changes when Giordan Cale wins her over. He vows to save her from her fate, but complications ensue causing a heart breaking betrayal that leaves Narcise in shambles. When Chas Woodmore falls into her lap, she knows she must convince him to help as he is her only hope at escape. He falls quickly for Narcise, but her heart has turned black and she'll never be able to let anyone in again. Or so she thinks.

I'll be honest that I wasn't sure about how I felt about Narcise in the last books. From the outside perspective, she just seemed to be using Chas rather than actually caring for him. However, even if that were the case, I couldn't really fault her for it when I took her past into account. I probably would have used anyone I could in that situation just to escape. Her inner strength is amazing, simply due to the fact that she kept her sanity all those years. The things she lived through were nothing short of horrific and it just proved how twisted her brother actually was. I couldn't wait for that slime ball to finally get his, even if I knew that may just never happen.

Like The Vampire Dimitri, this book is also set back in past events, with this one starting back well before Chas first went "missing." However, The Vampire Narcise was a completely different perspective, so there was a lot of things going on that we didn't know about. I was completely surprised to learn what the horrible betrayal was that Giordan had committed. The whole thing was one giant misunderstanding that caused things to go wrong. This instantly changed my opinion of Giordan, taking him from a man I thought was uncaring to someone willing to sacrifice a whole lot, yet still ended up with the short end of the stick.

The Vampire Narcise really wasn't what I was expecting. I had thought it would be mostly about Narcise and Chas and how they fell in love as well as their happy ever after. Instead, it was just as much about her history (and present) with Giordan as it was her relationship with Chas. It wasn't a love triangle in the strictest sense, but there definitely was some tension between the three. This book was also much steamier than the first two books, but in no way was it overdone. I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. There was a happy ever after, but it was much different than the ones that Dimitri and Voss had. I guess I'm just a little confused as to what the "change" means, as it wasn't really clear cut what the future would hold. Regardless of that fact, it did leave me satisfied with a smile on my face. The Vampire Narcise was another impressive installment in The Regency Draculia series that is sure not to disappoint.

(Received from Netgalley)

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The Vampire Dimitri (Early Review)

The Vampire Dimitri by Colleen Gleason

Regency Draculia #2

Regency London loves a Society wedding –
Even if there are vampires on the guest list.

Dimitri, the Earl of Corvindale, should be delighted that the headstrong Maia Woodmore is getting married. His mortal ward and house guest has annoyed – and bewitched – the Dracule nobleman too long, and denying his animal cravings grows more excruciating by the day.

Miss Woodmore's family has a rather...complicated history with the immortals and she herself possesses a keen sensibility far beyond mere women's intuition. Marriage will give her safety, respectability, and everything else a proper young lady could wish for. Everything, that is, except for passion.

In the looming battle between Dracule factions, all pretenses will shatter as Maia and Dimitir come together in an unholy union of danger, desperation, and fiercest desire.

Nothing could have shaken up Dimitri's life more than Chas Woodmore's sisters being thrust upon him for guardianship. He's carefully maintained an existence that needs no one as he searches for a way to get rid of his curse. However all that changes when stubborn Maia walks into his life and just won't get out of his thoughts. He wants nothing to do with his attraction to her as he feels self denial is the best way to achieve his goal. He also knows that what he is will terrify her, but she has secrets of her own. She may seem to be the model of propriety, but beneath that proper surface a smoldering passion exists just waiting for the right man.. or vampire.. to kindle it.

Almost the entire first half of the book was set in the past. This frustrated me a little at first because it felt like a rehashment of previous events, just told with a slightly different perspective. However, as time went on I realized this actually was crucial to the story as it allowed us to full see the growing dynamic between Maia and Dimitri. Of course there were also new scenes of events that had happened when Angelica or Voss was not around. I particularly enjoyed reading those scenes as many of them involved a certain amount of sensuality. Reading the first book you never would have known such things had occurred, and I really like the way the author blended everything together.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. I think that may due in part to the fact that there was much less confusion involved with the world and its particular set of rules. However, I think the biggest reason I enjoyed this book more was that I simply felt more attached to the main characters. Dimitri is such a tortured soul who wants nothing more than to have his soul released. As a result he has kept everyone at such a distance. I greatly enjoyed seeing Maia breaking through the walls he so thickly built around himself. I also really came to love Maia's character. She really isn't the prim and proper uptight woman she came off as in the previous book. We find there is a reason for her being so careful about her behavior and that at root she is an amazingly sensual woman just waiting to be unleashed.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, and am glad that I got to see these characters get their little bit of happiness. Even though the book in large part a rehashment of the previous book, the scenes picked seemed to be the most exciting one, making this one's pacing and progression much faster. It had a behind the scenes feel to it that made it incredibly interesting, and I was fascinated to see what had happened when we were not looking before. I'm still a little unsure about Chas and Narcise, as I just don't feel too much for their characters right now, however I am sure that will change in the next book as we get a better look at their situation and the reasoning behind their choices. All in all this was a really good read that is sure to please any one who loves historical with some paranormal mixed in.

(Received from Netgalley)

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The Vampire Voss (Early Review)

The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason

Regency Draculia #1

Regency London - a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men. But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer's own. Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule - a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls - the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral...until Angelica. Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger - for her body and blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him - to protect her

When their brother goes missing, the Woodmore sisters are placed in the care of a very reluctant Earl, in order to protect them from evil members of the Dracule. Lord Dewhurst, or Voss has always prided himself on his conquests of blood and flesh. However that all changes when he meets Angelica Woodmore. She isn't like the others, least of all being her Sight abilities. Even though they come from opposite worlds, they are quickly drawn to each other. Voss finds himself wanting to protect her, but what is the bigger threat; the opposing members of the Dracule, or he himself who longs with the desire to feast upon her flesh.

I've only read one other "period" book in the past, so it took me a little while to get used to rules of propriety and the other mannerisms of the book. The rules of propriety and other things were slightly baffling to me, but the author did do a good job of setting them up well. In fact I actually didn't care for the main character's sister, Maia at first since she continually lectured Angelica on propriety as well as controlled her with "an iron fist." However, after reading the entire book I realize that Maia was actually being a very good sister, by ensuring that Angelica didn't socially sabotage herself. The book is set in such a time where a proper lady's only goal in life is to marry well and produce at least one heir. I have a feeling I will enjoy the next book more, as I have had time to get used to the setting, and the society's rules, so less of my focus will be spent on those ideas.

While Voss's and Angelica's relationship was very slow in progression, I enjoyed their relationship. Looking back, I think the slow progression actually makes sense given the time period and the level of society they were in. I am glad that despite the risks, Angelica was bold at times and stepped outside of propriety's strict rules and mannerisms to at least explore a little bit between her and Voss. Of course several complications arise that severely set back their relationship several times, but at least she gave it a chance at all. Perhaps that was why Voss was drawn to her in the first place, she has an inner strength and fire that none of the other women did.

The book's pacing was rather slow in the beginning, and the shifting perspectives didn't really help me get pulled into the story at first. I prefer a book to either grab a hold of me with action immediately or at least draw me into the character's right away. However, that being said the further I read in this book, the more attached I got to the characters. I enjoyed the ending resolution, being a turn I did not see coming. I'm actually looking forward to the next book about Dimitri and Maia, as they were both characters I didn't particularly care for in the beginning, but definitely grew on me. All in all it was a pretty good read, even more so if you love reading about regency London.

Received from Netgalley

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