RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
DRAWING BLOODLINES (The Princeton Allegiant #1) by Deborah Garland is the first book in a new paranormal vampire romance series. The vampires are a bit different from the norm and this leads to new world-building opportunities for this author.
Dr. Alexander Manning is a doctor, a professor and a vampire. He is a valued member of the Princeton Allegiant due to his ability to supply blood to the group. Alex was turned over one hundred years ago and is still learning how to use the “special” gifts he received from his sire, Loren. No one knows about his extraordinary talents and he prefers to keep it that way.
Elizabeth Lockspier is a teacher and is adjusting to her life as a divorced mother of one. While having her blood drawn at a doctor’s visit by one of the most beautiful men she has ever seen, she becomes lightheaded as he takes too much and faints when she finds him drinking from one of the vials.
Alex could not help himself. He finds Elizabeth’s scent and blood intoxicating. The problem is that no human can know of a vampire’s existence and if they do they must be reported to the head of the Allegiant. Alex breaks into Elizabeth’s house to wipe her memory rather than report her, but finds she is as drawn to him as he is to her even though he is a vampire.
As Alex and Elizabeth grow closer, Alex’s past threatens to pull them apart forever. He must decide to obediently go into a forced marriage with a vampire he hates or attempt to change his immortal future with a secret science experiment of a colleague.
I was drawn into this new paranormal vampire world with all of the twists in the world-building and action. This is a complete story, but the author introduces enough secondary characters and questions to carry the series forward. The sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous. (Personally, I would not be interested in those cold interactions.) If you are looking for a new twist on vampire paranormal romance this is the book and series for you.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
