September 2019 Book of the Month Giveaway
October 19, 2019 06:52 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
September was a very good reading month for me with all of the books/novellas I read being winners. However, there was only one full-length romance that hit that all-important five-star mark to earn Book of the Month status from me. It’s the latest release in a favorite series, by a favorite author, who I seem to keep featuring again and again. That’s because her books are just so well-written and always seem to resonate with me. In this one we have a hero who is assisting with the investigation of the brutal murder of a female vampire, which appears to be connected to the murder of the heroine’s sister eight months earlier. As they work together to find answers, the pair develop a tender and passionate love affair. But the killer is still on the loose and may be looking for another target, leaving our heroine and possibly other vampire females vulnerable.
Boone is a soldier with the Brotherhood who is experiencing some guilt related to his role in the death of his father in a previous story. For his own safety, the Brotherhood removes him from his fighter rotation, and Butch invites Boone to assist him with a murder investigation. In the course of looking into this brutal slaying, he meets Helania, the young female who called the Brotherhood help line to report the murder. He is instantly drawn to her and despite Butch’s warning to exercise caution, he can’t seem to stay away from her. In spite of the differences in their social stations, he quickly discovers that they have a great deal in common, leading to a fast-burning, passionate romance between them. Boone was always the quiet one of the recruits who always had his nose stuck in a book and tended to stay in the background. I adored Boone’s quiet introverted nature. Out of any of the males in this series, he probably comes the closest to be a beta hero. The way the story opens with him taking full responsibility for the break-up of his betrothal to save his intended from being censured by the glymera set the tone for his part of the entire book. He’s kind, compassionate, and a true gentlemale who’s sweet but still fairly confident. However, when he’s out in the field, he can have a rather brutal nature as we see him taking out an intense thirst for violence on those he hunts. This gave him a rather intriguing dichotomy that I hope will be explored further in a future book.
Helania has been a hermit for her entire life. She rarely leaves her apartment, and her older sister, Isobel, was her lifeline to the outside world until Isobel was brutally murdered. Now Helania feels a burning need to ahvenge the sister who was her best friend and last living relative. Nearly every night she goes to Pyre’s Revival, a nightclub where the human patrons LARP as vampires and where real vampires sometime hang out, too, hoping to find the killer and save any other females who might be in danger. Unfortunately she doesn’t get there in time to rescue the latest victim, so she anonymously calls in the murder to the Brotherhood’s help line. When Butch and Boone figure out her identity, she nearly runs from them out of fear, but Boone’s gentle demeanor calms her. She helps them with their investigation, while falling head-over-heels for Boone. They initially bond over their shared grief, but gradually realize that they have so much more in common. Helania feels comfortable with Boone in a way she hasn’t with anyone else besides Isobel. As a deeply introverted person myself, who many would probably call a hermit, I related incredibly well to Helania. She just doesn’t feel at ease in social situations, but with Boone that’s completely different. I love that he was able to draw her out of her shell and help her see more of the world around her as well as become acquainted with some his friends. I like that she maintains her innate personality but grows into a more confident, independent female by the end.
Overall, this book was another great addition to the series. Both Boone and Helania were wonderfully relatable characters. As an introvert married to a fellow introvert, I was thrilled to see a relationship like ours positively represented in a fictional story, and I can say without a doubt that it rang true. I just loved seeing these two rather lonely souls find each other and make a romantic connection. The murder mystery was a nice touch, too. I enjoyed seeing Butch in investigator mode again and following along as he tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I started to suspect the killer before the reveal, but there were several plot points surrounding the why of it that were definite surprises that I didn’t see coming. There are some great secondary characters as well, who I look forward to hopefully seeing in future installments. All in all, it was a really enjoyable read. That’s why I’m naming J. R. Ward’s Blood Truth as my September Book of the Month. If you enjoy paranormal romance, mingled with romantic suspense that’s also tender, emotional, and super-sexy, then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.
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Cover Blurb- As a trainee in the Black Dagger Brotherhood's program, Boone has triumphed as a soldier and now fights side by side with the Brothers. Following his sire's unexpected death, he is taken off rotation against his protests—and he finds himself working with Butch O'Neal, former homicide cop, to catch a serial killer: Someone is targeting females of the species at a live action role play club. When the Brotherhood is called in to help, Boone insists on being a part of the effort—and the last thing he expects is to meet an enticing, mysterious female...who changes his life forever. |
When she crosses paths with Boone, she doesn't know whether to trust him or not—and then she has no choice. As she herself becomes a target, and someone close to the Brotherhood is identified as the prime suspect, the two must work to together to solve the mystery...before it's too late. Will a madman come between the lovers or will true love and goodness triumph over a very mortal evil?
Read my complete review of Blood Truth.
Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Blood Truth to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via U. S. Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I may not have the capability of tracking the package.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: J. R. Ward
