All it took for me to review this book was the cover. Is that not just gorgeous?

Gorgeous cover aside, I didn’t know what to expect when I dove into this book.  Obviously I read the blurb (see below) – but I hadn’t read any of Marie Treanor’s books before.  This book is the start of a new series for her, but the new series is a spinoff of her Awakened by Blood Series.

While I hadn’t read that series I found it wasn’t necessary.  Even though I didn’t know the existing characters (which make appearances), there was enough background information given that I never once felt lost.

I have to say that it has been a while since I devoured a book this fast.  While I have been out of my ‘reading’ phase, this book made me forget that I took a few months off of reading.  I read it so fast that I was incredibly sad it was over and already researching how much it would cost to buy the original series (side note: not a lot…I’ll be getting them very soon).

Mihaela is a damaged and lonely vampire hunter.  She spent her whole life living for her job – but recent events have changed the rules she’s always known.  While she’s trying to cope with the change in rules and the division of her loyalties and beliefs – she goes on vacation to Scotland.

Of course, what good vacation isn’t ruined (or is it made ages better?) by complications?  The complications come in the form of a powerful young boy, an old vampire with whom she has a vendetta against, and an even older and far more perplexing vampire named Maximilian.

Mihaela has to learn how to adjust to the new rules – and her own changing heart – as she races to save not just the little boy, but the whole world.

I instantly fell in love with the damaged Mihaela.  I’m a sucker for damaged characters, and Mihaela fit the bill.  I truly enjoyed the fact that while she was damaged, she was fiercely loyal – but also not opposed to learning the new rules and seeing how things would go.  Granted, her willingness to do that added another layer of trouble to her life, but it also added more layers to her.

Maximilian took me a little to warm up to – but only because I could see easily see him through Mihaela’s eyes.  Of course, he won me over fast and thankfully he at least made dents in Mihaela’s wall early on.  I think the moment he truly won me over though was when, despite his intense needs and wants – when he was told ‘no’ he walked away.  Pretty sure I cheered out loud at that point.

Together the two had the kind of fiery but fun relationship I adore.  The love scenes were smoking hot and intense.  The relationship had it’s flaws from the start and at the end things weren’t “perfect” – but the issues were on the table and everyone agreed to work to keep it that way.

[amazon_link id=”B0088Q23F8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Blood Guilt[/amazon_link] is definitely one of my favs for the year so far and I look forward to book 2.  Until then I’ll be satisfying myself with [amazon_link id=”B005B1H9X4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Blood on Silk[/amazon_link], [amazon_link id=”B0064XCOH4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Blood Sin[/amazon_link], and [amazon_link id=”0451234723″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Blood Eternal[/amazon_link].

*~*~*~*

BLOOD GUILT
(Blood Hunters, Book 1)
By Marie Treanor
eBook coming 5th June 2012

The first of a new vampire romance series, a sequel to the Awakened by Blood trilogy.

Natural enemies, deadly attraction…

Mihaela, a fearless vampire hunter secretly haunted by loneliness and childhood tragedy, finds it difficult to adjust to the new world order where vampires are not always the bad guys. She’s taking a much needed vacation inScotlandwhen she sees a little boy being chased through the streets ofEdinburgh. Rescuing him brings bigger problems – two vampires from her past: Gavril, who killed her family; and the reclusive and troubled Maximilian, gifted Renaissance artist and one-time overlord of the most powerful undead community in the world. Maximilian once saved her life and now needs that favor returned.

The earth moves for Mihaela in more ways than one. From Scotland to Budapest and Malta, she  races against time to prevent a disastrous, vampire-induced earthquake and save an innocent yet powerful child – all while fighting a dreadful attraction to Maximilian, her only ally, whom she can’t afford to trust. For Maximilian, the hunter becomes a symbol of renewed existence, as he struggles to accept his past and rediscovers his appetite for blood and sex – and maybe even happiness. 

Author Bio:

Marie Treanor lives inScotlandwith her eccentric husband and three much-too-smart children. Having grown bored with city life, she resides these days in a picturesque village by the sea where she is lucky enough to enjoy herself avoiding housework and writing sensual stories of paranormal romance and fantasy.

Marie Treanor has published more than twenty ebooks with small presses, (Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Changeling Press and The Wild Rose Press), including a former Kindle bestseller, Killing Joe. Blood on Silk: an Awakened by Blood novel, was herNew York debut with NAL.

Website: www.MarieTreanor.com  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Treanor-Paranormal-Romance/105866982782360 

Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marietreanornewsletter 

Blog: Marie Treanor’s Romantic Theme Party:
http://romanticthemeparty.blogspot.com/