At 49, Belladonna Barrone’s life has taken some interesting turns. She unwittingly married into the mob but managed to get free when her husband died in a car accident. Most recently she was attacked and turned into a vampire, something else she never intended. As with everything, she’s made the best of her situation.
She just didn’t know this newest situation would also result in her becoming … becoming the vampire governor of New Jersey. It’s cool, though. The perks are great, the penthouse is spectacular, and the salary couldn’t have come at a better time. Vampire politics, on the other hand, might be more complicated than she anticipated.
She’s handling it all pretty well, including dealing with another governor who thinks she ought to do his bidding and telling her kids that she’s now one of the immortal, when a new wrinkle from her old life complicates things in ways she would rather ignore. But Belladonna isn’t the kind of woman who runs from her problems.
Instead, she makes a plan and attacks. With her friends at her side, everything goes off without a hitch. Or at least she thinks so until a note shows up telling her the one person who’s been instrumental in making sure her past life stays in the past is in serious dangerous. Belladonna suddenly fears she’s bitten off more than she can chew.
But she’s not about to sacrifice a single one of her friends, so there’s nothing left to do but suck it up, buttercup.
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Book 2 in this delightful PWF series is even better than the first. It picks up right where book 1 left off with Belladonna’s (Donna) world being totally turned upside by being turned into a vampire & inheriting the political position of her sire. While she tries to learn all the rules (& perks) of her new “life” we’re introduced to some new characters & thrown a few curve balls. I’m loving the First Fangs Club series so far & can’t recommend it enough.
Suck it up indeed… Donna has to throw on her big girl panties and fast. From a family she never wanted to a family she seems to fit in like she was born into and still fight to now protect. Though there’s a severe learning curve and she needs to catch up quick if she doesn’t want to lose anyone else.
I love this series, it’s such fun, and the vampire world is done differently to the norm. Donna moves into the Prime Minister’s residence, and starts her rule, while trying to tie up loose ends from her previous life. We meet some new characters, one I’m still not sure of, and the book ends with you wanting (needing!) to read the next one. I need to know what happens! Can’t wait to read book three.
You know how they say that when a person is turned into a Vampire, there’s a particular quality or characteristic that is enhanced? Is badassery a trait? I’m a firm believer in YES because Belladonna Barrone has it in spades. Donna embraces her new role as Vampire Governor of New Jersey and accepts the full responsibility of her duties. Patience may have been virtue in her previous life but her knowledge learned being married to the mob is coming in quite handy. For one thing, power is a heady mistress and two, no one tells you what to do. Belladonna is certainly making a name for herself in the vampire community and I look forward to seeing what comes next for the First Fangs Club ladies.
Life as the governor was not something Belladonna thought would ever happen to her. But here she is in this huge penthouse, with her own staff and the future before her. If only the past would let her go. With the help of her friends she may just be able to pull it off and get back to her new life with all its new challenges and potentials for pitfalls.
I enjoyed this book more then I thought it was possible. It was worth more the 5 starts that is for sure. It has been a long time a book has taken me by surprise. I was all in! The plot twist smacked me so hard I felt it hours later. I had no clue where this story was going. I don’t even know If I was strapped in for the ride. You are going to want to read this book. I am not going to spill anything about the characters because this book needs to be read. It is the 2nd book in the First Fangs Club series. It is also apart of the PWF Paranormal women’s fiction. 13 woman writing books that lets you know that after 40 you are still alive.
Suck it Up Buttercup (First Fangs Club #2) by Kristen Painter is part of the PWF (Paranormal Women’s Fiction), a wonderful grouping of new fiction by several authors in the genre, written about, and geared for the mature woman.
FFC #2 picks Belladonna up where we left her last: a newly widowed from the mob, newly turned vampire, and the Vampire Governor of New Jersey. She’s got a lot to learn, but keeps her wits about herself the way only a former mob wife can. With grace and discretion. She hopes.
But the past dies hard, and for the newly undead, perhaps not at all. But Donna pulls up her bootstraps, keeps her new friends close, and old enemies, well, perhaps too close.
This is an absolute must read! 1-click NOW for great enjoyment. Full 5-stars.
Belladonna Barrone (Donna) is back! New to the vampire world, she is still adjusting to her brand new role as Vampire Governor. Not only is she still dealing with the Russian Mafia, thanks to her late husband, but a few new enemies are now her new normal.
She thought the danger was behind her but the past comes back to slap her in the face once again. I wasn’t sure I would like this new series as much as I do, the characters are funny and lovable. I don’t normally post quotes from books but there is one that really meant a lot to me “When a woman finds the self confidence to do hard things in life and to stop caring what others think- and what society thinks-that’s when you level up as a woman”
I can not wait for more!
If you like strong old(er) women who take no crap then you will love this series.
Sorry, no spoilers from me, read for yourself. You won’t be sorry!
At this point I think anyone who has seen anything about me anywhere probably knows I LOVE Kristen Painter books and this one was no different. Although some of her other series are very dear to my heart, this particular heroine definitely resonates with me in a different way, as I am sure she does with many “not 20 something anymore” women out there.
Book 2 picks up literally right where book 1 ends, which doesn’t always work, but in this case it really allowed me as the reader to feel that I was getting to follow Belladonna’s complete journey and transformation. I LOVE that with the vampire stuff being all new to her she asks the questions that often we as readers want to know to (especially as most paranormal worlds have their own unique rules). She’s not afraid to let people know that “There should be a handbook for that!”. Fans of book 1 will definitely appreciate where book 2 leads you. Personally I prefer it as with all the background set the book is able to move at a faster pace, and I do love a little action (of the fighting kind in this case), and showing that although family is important, sometimes that family can be formed from the outside.
I do feel the need mention that this definitely has a little more of a cliffhanger than the first, which is different from the Nocturne Falls series with each completely wrapped up with an HEA – but the main story is completed and it definitely isn’t one that I would classify as “throw the book worthy” (I know you readers all know what I mean) – more like just hurry up and get the next one out required!
An easy, 5 stars from me and my official Melanie’s Muses Approved status!
Suck It Up Buttercup by Kristen Painter
2nd book in the First Fangs Club series. Paranormal women’s fiction. Best read in series order for background world building and character histories that are influenced in the novel.
Cliffhanger.
Entertaining and charming.
Donna was turned into a vampire in the previous book and then subsequently made Governor of New Jersey. In this story her life situation expands to include her new living arrangements, new assistants, new friends and enemies both old and new. As a former mob boss wife she handles problems with ease and confidence.
It’s Donna’s confidence that impressed me the most. She is new to the paranormal world, but by applying life lessons she’s learned, Donna is able to be stand tall and be gracious. Her children’s acceptance is a bit surprising.
A tiny bit of humor. A bit more of mob and FBI interactions. Plus a lot of powerful women living and managing their surroundings.
I alternated between an ecopy and audio version. The audiobook was narrated by B. J. Harrison who has also done this author’s Shadowvale and Nocturne Falls series. He does a good job in voice differentiations and keeps an even tone throughout.