Sandy M’s review of Love Without Blood by Raz Steel
Paranormal Romance published by Love Spell 30 Dec 08

I was browsing my local Target and, of course, couldn’t stay away from the book aisle. I picked this book up, thought the blurb sounded good, so decided to try it. One of those impulse buys when you’re not expecting to really buy anything at all. When I started reading, the first chapter started out grabbing at me right away, held on tight and didn’t loosen its grasp one little bit.  Until I got to the second chapter, that is.

The only reason I hesitated when I started the second chapter is that it totally broke the heart-pounding, the anticipation, the grip of the first chapter. Dead stop. All of that did pick up again with the third chapter, but the fourth chapter brought me to a dead stop again. I was a tad irritated by this time. But I have to admit that when all of these different chapters finally came to together and it was clear where the author was leading me, I forgave him for jerking me around those first however many chapters.

I really can’t go into a lot of what happens in this book because everything is so closely related by name, by character, by events, etc., that it would give too much away. I can say that I did like the characters in this book. Lara West is a surgeon and is ready to step into the top dog position of her ER. She’s a very strong lady, is even able to block most of the mind control that goes on in this book.

Bobby is a vampire who makes a good life for himself working at hospitals where it’s easier for his kind to feed. He’s one of those good vamps who doesn’t kill humans when feeding.  He has a little humanity left in him, no matter what the government team who searches for and destroys vampires says. A favorite character is Phillipe, a gay nurse who befriends both Lara and Bobby.

There’s so much that goes on in this book, it’s nearly difficult to even tell much of what happens. Lara is carted off by that government team to help them out. Bobby is just trying to keep his current life on stable ground. Both of them get caught up in something ground breaking, but that nearly does them both in and only sheer grit and determination keep them alive. The only thing I didn’t like about these two is the author keeps them apart for the longest time.  It’s great scenes when they finally do come together, but I would have liked to have had more. Not sure if that’s even feasible, but I still would have liked it.

All in all, this is quite an interesting read, even given my apprehension in the beginning. The addition of Phillipe’s parents at the end, I’m not sure if that was needed, especially with no explanation as to their belief in vampires. The villain is one evil bastard and he has a heyday reigning havoc in the last quarter of the book.

Take a chance.  I think you might be surprised.

Grade: B

Summary:
.
“I CAN’T STOP THE BLEEDING,” said her nighttime caller.
.
The intruder then compelled Dr. Lara West to remove the bullet from his shoulder. She treated his wound, but that quelled neither his desire for the sweet life pulsing through the flesh of her thigh, nor the rampant animal lust that defines his existence.
.
The darkness has just begun. Dr. West’s identity, what she wants—all stands in danger of being devoured. Nothing is ever the same for those inducted into the sinister world of vampires, be they newly turned monsters or the government agents sworn to destroy them. Lara West has tasted both power and passion, and a price must be paid. Yet she’s glimpsed salvation in the night. Hope still remains for…
.
Read an excerpt.