Thursday, October 16, 2008

Review - Bite Me by Parker Blue

Bite Me
The Demon Underground, Book 1
Parker Blue
Bell Bridge Books
September 30, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-9802453-8-

Book Blurb:
My kid sister shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Dad might not like it if you get vampire blood in his trunk."

I slammed the trunk shut. "He's used to it. Besides, the blood will disintegrate along with the rest of the body when sunlight hits it."

Barely eighteen-year-old heroine Valentine Shapiro got a raw deal in the parent lottery. Her father was part incubus demon, and her mother's never forgiven her for that.

Life after high school is tough enough without having to go 15 rounds with your inner demon. Thrown out of the house by her mother, Val puts one foot in front of the other and does the only thing that seems to make any sense--she takes aim at the town vampires. A stake a day, keeps the demon at bay. (But don't call her Buffy. That makes Lola, her demon, very cranky.)

Her dark side makes everyday life a roller coaster, but means she's perfect for her night job as a bounty hunter. San Antonio's vampires are out of control, and it's up to Val, her faithful hellhound Fang, and her new partner, a handsome San Antonio police detective, to get the deadly fangbangers off the city streets.

Soon enough she finds herself deep in the underbelly of the city, discovering the secrets of the Demon Underground and fighting to save those she loves. Whether they love her back or not.

My thoughts:
Val Shapiro is just turning eighteen and is having one of the worst birthdays ever. Born a mix of human and demon has given her family the excuse to toss her out on her own. Left with no place to call home and no job to support her, Val seeks employment with a branch of the local police department. The one thing she has learned well is killing vampires, which is exactly what the team needs.

With her hellhound sidekick, Fang, and the help of her hunky new partner, Val is about to discover more than she ever knew about her past. In the process she’s learning just what it takes to keep the succubus part of her satisfied without draining the men around her. Her family is in trouble, and it’s a good thing that Val doesn’t hold a grudge, because the background her mother hates so much may be the very thing that saves them.

This is the first book in The Demon Underground series. Ready or not, Valentine Shapiro is on her own as far as her family is concerned. Lucky for her she’s about to land her perfect job, find a great roommate, pair up with a handsome partner, and adopt a pet that’s so much more than he seems. Ms. Blue entertains readers with a sharp young heroine ready to take on anything life throws her way. Bite Me is well-paced, the paranormal action is plentiful, and the characters are nicely defined. Val’s new life is just beginning, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes her next. This is a young adult read that centers on an eighteen year old who’s just beginning to spread her wings as she transitions into adulthood.

To learn more about Bite Me, please visit the author’s website: Here

Read an excerpt: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

11 comments:

Amie Stuart said...

Ooooo that sounds REALLY GOOD!

SciFiGuy said...

Another one for my TBR pile.

Kimberly Swan said...

Amie - I'm always amazed that the YA authors can write them so that they're just as entertaining for adults as they are for the teens. :)

SciFiGuy - That never ending pile that we're all so eager to add to. *grin*

Enchanted by Books said...

I want to review this one! :) LOL Sounds really good!!

Kimberly Swan said...

I think that you'll really enjoy this one Rachael. :)

Unknown said...

Another one added to my wishlist. I may have ordered it but while it is released here it doesn't seem to be available anywhere!

Kimberly Swan said...

Strange that you can't find it anywhere, especially with Amazon being one of the first places you check! :(

Anonymous said...

That sounds good, especially knowing that it's a YA.

Kimberly Swan said...

It's a YA that's easily enjoyed by adults SCooper, I think you'll like it. :)

Anonymous said...

I read it earlier this week and went looking for more!!!! I can't wait for the next book in the series...and I'm way past being a YA (well, maybe at heart I still am).

Kimberly Swan said...

Everyone I've talked to is well past being a YA and they all loved it! I'm looking forward to the next installment as well. :)