Tag: #deborahgarland

Book Review: Must Be Crazy by Deborah Garland

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MUST BE CRAZY (Darling Cove Book 3) by Deborah Garland is the third contemporary romance book in the Darling Cove series. The last single Mallory is about to be saved by her perfect match, the hot single dad volunteer fire chief/architect of Darling Cove. This book can be read as a standalone, but the family is very close and there are crossover references to the first two romance books.

Skye Mallory loves her family above all else, but she has also felt the need to excel to be noticed as the middle child. As an attorney, she always works hard to win no matter how big or small the case. When a fire destroys her office and apartment, she is saved by the Darling Cove fire chief.

Edward Mendelson has noticed Skye around Darling Cove. He has little time for dating though while working as an architect, volunteering for the fire department and raising his son, Julian alone. When called to a fire, he rescues Skye and realizes that he wants more than her appreciation.

Skye and Edward quickly realize that their desire is mutual, but both of their pasts are about to interfere. Skye accepts a case involving her ex-boyfriend to help pay to rebuild her business and too late finds out Edward is the person he is suing. If that does not split them apart, Julian’s mother reappears and wants custody and to move him to another state. Also, Skye has a secret she has been keeping that may change the way Edward feels about a future with her.

There are a lot of realistic ups-and-downs in this romance. Skye and Edward both have pasts that interfere with their present. Ms. Garland had me emotionally involved with all of the characters in this story. I felt for Skye deeply as she dealt with her secret while being surrounded by pregnant family. I also loved how much Edward worked to be a great single dad. I did have a problem with how easily at one point Edward was willing to let Julian go with his birth mother, even though it worked out in the end. Edward and Skye’s sex scenes were explicit and hot, but not gratuitous. This was a romance that kept me turning the pages and left me very satisfied by HEA.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Drawing Bloodlines by Deborah Garland

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.