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Thursday, March 24, 2011

'It Happened One Bite' by Lydia Dare



About the Book: (from Sourcebooks)
Blaire Lindsay has been warned that her ancestral home in the Scottish Highlands is haunted. But it will take more than tales of fictional ghosts to frighten Blaire, a battle-born witch with supernatural strength and the ability to make sparks fly from her fingertips. Hearing spectral wails, she decides to search for their source, and is surprised to find a handsome English baron chained to the dungeon wall. Once Blaire frees James, Lord Kettering, from his bonds, she quickly finds herself in the arms of the vampyre lord, whose perfect manners are more dangerous than anything Blaire has ever faced...Soon her family's castle is overrun with vengeful vampyres from James' past, which threatens both of their futures. Blaire and James join together in the fight of their lives to save everything they hold dear from the forces of evil...

  

The Cover:
Cheesy...big time!!! If I saw this in the bookstore I would just keep on going and not bother to pick it up to investigate it further.
 
My First Reaction When I Finished:  

When is book two available?????????? Now?? Soon???? This was fun!

My Review:
Judging by the cover I set my expectations low when I cracked this book open. But I'm happy to report that I found this to be a fun read that I flew through in no time! I thought the author had a very cool twist in the last part of the book that really added to the overall story and made me smile. This isn't one of those cheesy vampire stories at all!! I laughed a few times and I felt engaged in the story. What I found the most interesting is that Lydia Dare is actually 2 women! Each one writes 1,500 words and then sends it to the other one for editing, and that one then writes 1,500 words and the other edits. It works and I never ever found a crack within their storyline whatsoever.
 
Favorite character? James, the Vampyre. I loved the way he desired Blaire and how he wanted to take care of her.
 
Favorite quote:
  "I keep getting this pain within my chest."
  "Pain?" Finally, he had Matthew's attention.
  "That's what I said," James repeated as he spun to face Matthew. He looked perplexed.
  "We don't experience heartache. Longing. Love. It's one of the sacrifices of having eternal life." He met Jame's gaze. "Allow me to ask you a question?"
  "As though I could stop you," James replied.
  "Would you give up eternal life for a heart? For the ability to love? For Miss Lindsey?"
  James rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes and groaned. "Without a moment's hesitation," he finally said beneath his breath. "Though there's no need to wish for such a thing, is there?" he added quietly.
  "No, I'm afraid there's not."
[p. 213] * uncorrected ARC copy


Do I recommend?
For my readers that enjoy a fun romantic read with characters that you will really come to like, then yes! This isn't a bodice ripper, though some of the sex scenes are very pleasantly steamy...but not cheap. The author's don't use words that turn you off, but instead really put you in the moment of two people who care for each other.

Rating: 7.5/10

Reviewers who also read this one:

Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
"The best part about this book is that I just wanted more. I kept turning page after page to find out what is going to happen. The book has no dull moments and there is a flow, and you just want more."

 Bookfoolery and Babble
"In general, a plucky heroine and a romance that was at least unusual from my end (I've never read a witch/vampyre romance) made It Happened One Bite a pretty good read -- not great, not awful. Pretty good."

Queen of Happy Endings
'This book is a wonderful example of a gothic fairytale that I think many will enjoy. Take it to bed on a cold night and prepare to be swept away to a Scotland of old where covens of witches joined to protect their own and vampires roamed the dark, lonely hills. Truly a great read!'




Disclaimer:Thank you to Danielle @ Sourcebooks for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel


Published: March, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author: Lydia Dare
Pages: 390
Genre: Regency Romance
ISBN: 9781402245077
*Uncorrected Advance Copy 
 
** Review style courtesy of Black Diamond's Book Reviews
 
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

15 comments:

  1. I would say that they might consider a cover change for the actual release, but just me...

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  2. The title and the cover do look kind of cheesy, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

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  3. I am sensing ashift in your reading material and I have to admitI really like the sound of this one. I might just have to check it out and count it as my just for fun challenge. great review!

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  4. Thanks for the review. I watched a PBS program about the British comedies last week-end and two writers said they use this approach too.
    Ann

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  5. This sounds AWESOME! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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  6. How funny about the Lydia Dare authorship thing. I bet that is so fun for them!

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  7. I'm afraid I only got through the first part of your review. I don't know what's wrong with me but witches, etc. just freak me out. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  8. Great review, I think I'm up for a fun read!

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  9. This sounds like a good one. I like books like this once in a while. The cover - yup cheesy although I do like the bottom half of it.

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  10. sounds fun :)

    just a question--how do you email from your comments?

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  11. I am glad you enjoyed it too :) It was just fun, and light-

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  12. I'm definitely going to pick this one up after reading your review! Thanks for sharing because I might not have picked it up based on the cover as well :)

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  13. I would have judged by the cover too. Glad you enjoyed the read.

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  14. I agree about the cover being cheesy. I ahte when they ruin a perfectly good book thst way!

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  15. Thanks Staci for using my review format. My last review was set up different, but I really do like this format!

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