A Paranormal Women’s Fiction for anyone who feels like age is just a number and midlife still has magic!When 49-year-old Belladonna Barrone’s mobbed up husband does her the favor of dying in a car accident, she thinks she’s finally free of the crime family she unwittingly married into. Then the boss tells her that she has to complete her husband’s last job before that freedom is truly hers.No big … truly hers.
No big deal, she figures. Until things go south in ways she never imagined. Suddenly she’s thrust into a whole new world that makes the mob look like kindergarten. Vampires and werewolves are real? How is that freaking possible?
Her dreams of a new life disappear faster than wine at book club as more problems arise from her husband’s dark dealings and the unbelievable complications caused by her supernatural entanglements. Only her strength and determination (and some wild new friends) will see her through this next chapter, but the odds are against her.
How much more can her life suck? She’s about to find out…
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Sucks to be Me by Kristen Painter
Paranormal women’s fiction (PWF) Slightly older female protagonist. Launch of series by different authors. Clean. Mafia and vampire related deaths.
Belladonna is relieved when she gets the news that her mafia connected husband has been killed in a car accident. It’s finally her chance to get away from “the family”. Being forced to do her husbands last drop-off, she makes a stop at the cemetery to yell at her husbands grave. When she is unexpectedly knocked over, and bitten, the world takes on a completely different set of problems moving from mafia connections to vampire and blood hunger.
She didn’t ask for this change, but she is going to master it nonetheless.
Donna is middle aged, late 40’s and is ready to take charge. She’s brave enough to talk to the FBI, and stand up for what’s right. I admired her tenacity and strength of character standing up for herself against the threat of both the mafia and the vampire governor of New Jersey. Her life experience comes into play making her a leader and pillar of good.
There is no romance here other than a hint of what may happen in future books. If this world continues. If it does, I’m all in.
Kristen Painter has done it again with her new book, Sucks To Be Me, the first in a new series featuring a more “mature” heroine. When Belladonna’s husband dies in a car accident she thinks she’s finally free of their mob lifestyle, but the boss has one more job for her. Unfortunately things take a turn and suddenly Donna has to deal with vampires, werewolves, politics, crazy mob wives, and a whole new lifestyle. Fortunately she has The First Fangs Club to help her navigate the craziness and figure out how to get her life back on track.
Sucks to be me was a super fun easy read. I finished it in a day. I loved the main character, Belladonna, she was brave and smart and willing to do what was needed to save herself and her loved ones. I liked that she stood up for herself when it was needed. I liked that she had strong women in her corner when she needed them and how realistic her reaction was when she discovered she was a vampire, the perks that came with that and how she dealt with them was fun, I would have done the same,lol. A new favorite from Kristen Painter,
Oh my goodness what can I say about this book? I truly fell in love with Donna within the first few pages! She is a strong woman that is for sure. I honestly truly hope that Kristen decides to make this into a series. I would love to see more about this new world she has written for us that is for sure!
This is a great new series by Kristen Painter . This book is part of the Paranormal Women’s Fiction Romance group (PWF). The books in the PWF are all strong female lead characters and the female lead is middle age, mostly over 40 years old. I have to admit that I love reading a book with a strong female lead but loving it more when the character is middle age. Since most books are written with younger characters. Belladonna Barrone’s husband does her a favor of dying in a car accident/ She has been trying to find a way out of her marriage for a while and has been talking to the FBI to turn states evidence. With him dead the mob boss makes her do one last job and she will supposedly be free of them. On the way to the job she swings by the cemetery to give her husband a piece of her mind. While there someone knocks her down and bites her. The next thing she knows her body is changing, she is stronger, faster, and growing fangs. Know she has even more problems to deal with. This is one of my favorite books so far. I loved the book and story and can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
I adored this book! I have heard of paranormal romance, but this is the first paranormal women’s fiction that I’ve heard of, or even read. Just like all of Kristen Painter’s books, this one was a delight to read. I related more to the main character than in her other books, because she’s more my age. I just loved Belladonna’s whole vibe. Her attitude. Her wit. Her humor. I can’t wait to see what she’s up to next!
#PWF – Paranormal Women’s Fiction is not actually something I had heard of before this release. To be honest, anything with the words “Women’s Fiction” in the description would normally have me running in the other direction, but this was not what I was expecting at all.
Finally we have some kick-ass heroines out there, dealing with the same things that many of us over 40’s deal with….. kids, body changes, the necessary evil of trying to guess how long you are going to have to be standing as that will dictate the option of great versus practical shoes, but then these ladies all get a little unusual extra on their plate.
Followers of my reviews will know that I don’t really have an age criteria preference, from YA to Historical, I will pretty much read them all, and still love following along with the adventures of those a good few years younger than me, but this? This was fantastic! Donna Barrone is definitely a woman I could relate to. Kids have moved out, (I mean the mob hubby was a lot left field of my life), but the food decisions, and as I already mentioned the SHOE choices (can you tell this was a big deal for me?), and then a huge paranormal shift occurring was definitely something I could get behind.
My reviews are spoiler free so you will have to grab the book to see what that paranormal shift involved, but I will saw you won’t be disappointed. This book had me laughing out loud as I connected so easily with Donna’s inner monolgue. I am so glad that #PWF is making a stand for the non 20 year olds out there and cannot wait to devour more.
An easy, sparkling 5 stars from me (that I will leave on the page and not add to my jeans – when you read the book that will make more sense)
I will mention that although the end isn’t a cliffhanger in the worse sense of the world, it definitely finishes with reader being ready for the story to continue. Luckily Book 2 is already available for Pre-Order with a planned release of April 28th 2020.
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
This was a great book !
Donna was ready to leave her life of a “mob” wife behind.
She had no idea that her husband was part of mafia.
When her husband died, she thought that she was scotch free.
Not likely!
She has to finish her husband last job, then she will be free.
Easy, right ?
This is when the real adventure start for Donna.
You will have to read the book to find out.
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
What a great story! A mix of adventure, humor, and romance! And I love that Donna, the heroine, was closer to my own age. I also really hope we see more of Pierce in future books!
This story was so different for me. It was very good, everything scene, person and action was detailed perfectly for me. I really liked the story, it had a great flow to it and was a very enjoyable read.
“Painter mixes the supernatural, the FBI, the mafia, and middle-aged women into a tale you can sink your teeth into (pun intended)!”