Saturday, January 19, 2013

VBT: Giveaway and Review ~The Vampire's Hope by Danica Winters



Book Description:

Ellie Smith, an emotionally stunted dancer, finds more than she bargains for after her human life is taken by the vampire, Master Liam. Once inside the Vampire’s underground lair, the Keres Den, she meets Ian, an immortal Viking warrior, who is infiltrating the soulless prison.

As Ellie begins her training, she learns that the dark tunnels around her are filled with even darker secrets. As the truth of her existence come to light, she is faced with a choice—does she let her past dictate her future, or can she begin to feel again?


 Title: The Vampire's Hope                   

Series: The Vampire's Hope Book One

Author: Danica Winters

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense

Publisher: BTGN

Ebooks

Words: 11k

Pages: 40

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / ARe / Kobo
   
CHAPTER ONE

The couple in front of her stood under the bar’s lopsided mistletoe, their lips pressed against each other in a gesture of Christmas spirit. On the man’s lapel was a white rose, smashed against the woman’s full breast.

The sight made Ellie Smith laugh. Ellie was the same age as the two lip-locked party goers, yet they were so much younger. They wore the white rose of hope—probably hope for love that would undoubtedly turn bad, or hope that the holidays would bring them the gifts of eternal bliss… those naïve fools.

The couple parted and their cheeks glowed with the pink twinges of arousal. The sight was more than she could handle and she looked away. They were luckier than they knew. They probably did not have any idea what it was like to be without a bed for the night, without a home, without purpose, and without hope.

To her left a thick-set, redheaded man approached. His shoulders were erect and he walked with a stride that conveyed power. Catching Ellie’s eye, he smiled the grim smile of subtle manipulation.

Whatever he wanted, he wouldn’t get it from her.

A blonde man with an arched smile stepped out from behind the threatening redhead and sat down at the table. “Hello, Elpis. Welcome to The Ravena.”

The way he said her name made her skin crawl.

The blonde waved his hand at the rows of booze and the surly bartender. “I hope you like the bar.”

The bar was like any number of others, just another stop in her constant travel through the dark world of the forgotten.

“Thanks. I have no idea how you know my given name, but I’d rather you called me Ellie.”

“Sorry, Ellie.”

“Are you the owner of this place?”

The blonde motioned to the dangerous-looking redhead behind him.

She knew she should fear them, but there was nothing inside of her heart. “I need a job. Are you hiring? I can dance.”

The blonde laughed. He looked over his shoulder at the red-headed man. “She doesn’t have a clue.”

He turned back to her as if he had said nothing to the man who was clearly his boss. “My name is Ian. And this is Master Liam…” He pointed at the rigid redheaded man.

“What are you after?”

The club’s music filled the silence between them.

Ian smirked. “Master Liam would like a dance.”

Ellie gazed over Ian’s blonde hair and his features—his eyes were the same blue as the sea, and his face was wide and rugged. He looked like a portrait of a Viking.

Master Liam extended his hand in a silent command to dance. She looked back at the handsome Viking. Liam was a threat, but so was Ian. Was it better to go after a powerful man who she wasn’t attracted to in hopes of getting a job, or was it better to forget her chance of getting hired and stay with the handsome Viking?

For once Ellie wondered what it was like to feel something—anything. If she was normal, would she blush? Would her lust move her nearer to him? Instead, she only felt the dull emptiness inside of her breast. Was there truly life without emotion?

Ellie slipped her hand into Master Liam’s. He led her to the dance floor, but she could sense Ian’s eyes upon her.

Master Liam moved in a stiff, archaic way and his hands never strayed from her waist. Not that she minded. It was nice not to be groped. What kind of dancer would Ian be?

She looked back at her table. Ian stared at her with a hunger in his eyes. She dropped her gaze. If he wanted her, he didn’t act the part.

Master Liam said nothing to her as she looked up into his face. His eyes were filled with lust and they slowly danced their way to the farthest recess of the dance floor. His cold hands forced her head back and she stared up at the ceiling.

He pushed her against the wall.

He slowly bent down, taking each movement in his own unhurried time. He inhaled and blew his chilled breath against the skin of her neck.

He wasn’t the man she wanted, but a job was a job—however she had to get it.

Liam leaned in, and instead of kissing her lips, he pressed his face into her neck and caressed her skin with his icy lips.

She drew in a breath and her pulse quickened.

His teeth pierced her skin, and she started to shriek, but his hand clamped down over her opening lips. She struggled but as he drained her, weakness won. A fire burned where his teeth dug into her flesh. Acid filled her veins.

With her last thought, she envisioned the white rose on the stranger’s lapel. No emotion, no hope…

          About the Author:     

Danica Winters is an Amazon best-selling romance author based in Montana. She is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Montana Romance Writers, and Greater Seattle Romance Writers. She is a contributor to magazines, websites, and news organizations. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, the outdoors, and the bliss brought by the printed word.

 Blog / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / B&N / Ravenous Romance Silver Publishing / Books to Go Now  


My Thoughts:

This book was over before I knew it. There were only 40 pages in this book. It was a great set up for what is sure to be an interesting series. I am intrigued. I'd like to know how they knew who Ellie was. In other words, I'd like more of a back story.

There was gore, action, a smidgen of romance, and mystery. I hope the answers to the who, what, where, and why's are in the next book. I am especially interested in the significance of the white rose!

I received a copy of this book from Bewitching Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion. I enjoyed it.


Question: Do you prefer quick stories like this one or longer more drawn out books?


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I'd love to know what you're thinking. Please leave a comment!

20 comments:

  1. There are times I want a quick read and there are times when I want a longer one. So I like both based on my mood.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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    1. I'm the same way Debbie! It also depends on the subject matter. :D

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  2. Sometimes i enjoy a quick short story but even then i must get the feeling she was complete, if when i finish i still have a lot of questions i'm not happy^^;;

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    1. I know what you mean. This one had a definite ending but there were things left to wonder about. I think those will be answered in the next book?

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  3. Generally longer books, but shorter stories can be great if done well :)

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    1. I agree and I have been lucky enough to find a few authors that do shorter books really well! :D

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  4. I appreciate both. I read long stories most of the time but occasionally I like a quick read.
    Thanks,
    lorih824 at yahoo dot com

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    1. I'm the same way. Most of the time when I read short stories I'm left wanting more. For that reason, I usually go with longer books.

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  5. I'm more of a fan of longer books. But I sometimes like shorter stories, if they're well done.

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  6. It depends on how well written they are. Some stories work as nice short reads, others need to be longer, have more details. Fantasy books for example that describe new worlds and people probably should be longer, while cute little romance reads or erotic reads often do better if they're shorter. If the story works and is good, I don't care about the length.

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  7. +JMJ+

    I usually prefer longer stories, but I wouldn't insist on length for the sake of length. If a story can be told perfectly in a few pages, then it should stay short. It sounds, however, as if this one needed to be longer. I'm surprised that it is never revealed how the two men know her real name, as it's the first clue that something is up. I know that this is the first of a series, so that will presumably be addressed in a later book, but I think even interconnected books should give the reader more of a sense of closure.

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    1. There was closure at the end but I just seem to latch on to small things and question everything if it isn't explained.

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  8. It really depends on my time, sometimes I just don't have the time to read a longer novel (I love them though) and if I start one then it's almost heartbreaking when I have to put it down to tend to real life. So shorter stories are a refreshing way to fill in those times and there are some great ones out there. Short stories can curb my literary appetite for long enough till I can dive head first into a more substantial read.

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    1. I think we can all agree that short or long, if the story is good we like it.

      Also, it seems like we all read short and long books as time permits us. :D

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  9. I don't have any preference, i just want the good stories

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  10. I enjoy longer novels because they can give me detail on the characters. I do enjoy short novels when I dont have much time.

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  11. i don't have any prference. i just want good stories

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  12. I really like a novel inbetween the two

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