Wounded Soul

Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2019/12/06/wounded-soul-annabelle-jacobs/

I love to be surprised by books (who doesn’t?). In the Romance genre, that happens more often than not, due to the usually vague summary in the backcovers. This one is no exception. It looks like a long blurb, but it is mostly the classic babbling that doesn’t reveal anything interesting. Just a few works to know about what are the heroes and what kind of romantic dynamic we are going to find. Nothing is actually revealed about the story per se. It is a risk we take with this genre, but it is worthy most of the times. Let’s see what the unwrapping of this book brought to my life!

In this story we meet Ian, a human who has a big crush on his best friend; even though he knows there is nothing to do over there. Willing to get over it, he lets to be pushed to meet other guys and have a much deserved good time. Here enters Jesse, the sexy stranger who woes Ian in a couple of steamy sessions and makes him forget all about Blake. But one tiny detail is kept in the dark: Jesse is a vampire. Not many humans know about them and they are closely monitored by a secret police department to make sure they behave and follow the rules. Same police where Blake is about to start his training…

After a few chapters, it is usually easy to foretell what is going to be the direction of a Romance novel. Not all the details, but the big picture about the drama brewing and possible issues. This time the author was able to misdirect me, which I find kind of refreshing (I know it sounds a bit pretentious…) and one of the reasons I have enjoyed this book quite a lot. The situation looked clear: best friend that I love ignores me that way, a new hook-up that rocks my world makes me forget best friend, new hook-up is secretly a vampire, best friend is jelous of new hook-up, best friend hunts vampires… It was there. Clear as day. When I thought that was about to happen, the story takes an unexpected turn and my smugness is obliterated from my face. I must thank the author for putting this reader in his place. I won’t make assumptions next time. Who am I kidding? It will happen again. Trying to guess what is coming is part of the fun!!

The story (the real one, not the one in my head) is not only unexpected, it is also very well paced with an amount of tension that kept me on the verge of madness more often than not. Without any shred of doubt, this book is what we could call a page-turner. It was a constant battle between the good guys and the bad guys. But I don’t mean a exchange of fists and the stabs of fangs. It is more like a race where honor competes against cruelty. Both of them trying to take the other one down, but with good laid plans instead of violence (well, less violence that usual). The last chapters are actually quite stressful, because during one paragraph the good guys had the advantage and in the next the opposite team hold all the cards. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure if the good guys were going to be the winners at the end. What a ride!!

The weakest link of this book are the characters. Don’t get me wrong, they are fine and I have enjoyed meeting them; but they are not as noteworthy as the rest of the book. Ian, Jesse, Blake, Cate and Lys are really nice guys which everybody would love to have in their lives; but all of them are cut from almost the same cloth. All of them are good humored, polite, loyal and without any quirk or annoying habit. They are too perfect if you ask me. But I do love the interactions among them. Reading about that kind of tight friendhips always brings joy to my soul (I’m getting old…). There is a character that I have enjoyed quite a lot even though he has made me foam through my mouth and cursed like a foul mothed pirate: Peter. Yes, the Dark Side has also its appeal. He is one of those evil characters that I LOVE to hate. The book wouldn’t have been that good without his twisted games.

I always like to mention something about the romantic part of the story, but this time there is not much to tell. Yes, Ian and Jesse are explosive together. The naughty scenes are really good, making your heart pump blood faster than usual; but they are also a bit too long and a bit repetitive. I’m glad the author hasn’t sold us the truest love story there is, because their relationship is not at that point or anywhere closer to it. And, being honest, it is for the best. It feels more sincere. There is also a question that is nagging at me since the first encounter between Ian and Jesse: if the heart of a vampire doesn’t beat… how can the blood get to the proper place to ensure that the sexual act can be performed? Magic, I guess…

Not a perfect a book, but it is not far from being one. I need to pick more books by Annabelle Jacobs, because the ones I have read so far have a style I really like and have left me with a huge smile in my face.

I absolutely loved this book! This was a great vampire love story. Ian and Jesse have great chemistry and I love the banter between them and both of their best friends. This book will suck you in from the first page and won’t let you go until the last page. This is a must read story.

I would rate this 4 stars.

Ian has feelings for his best friend Blake, who doesn’t reciprocate. In a moment of impulsiveness, he takes home a stranger named Jesse. But Jesse isn’t who he seems to be and suddenly Ian and Jesse are thrown into circumstances that will change their lives. While the general population doesn’t know vampires exist, branches of the government and law enforcement do. Most vampires are in covens that follow the rules laid out by the Vampire Liaison and Crimes Division so they are no longer hunted and killed. But some vampires like to kill and are not happy about being monitored. The cast is rounded out by: the coven leader Raphael, Jesse’s sire and former lover Peter, Ian’s best friends Blake and Cate, and Jesse’s best friend Lys.

When Blake joins the VLCD, things get complicated. The circumstances put everyone in danger as one bad decision after another happens at a frantic pace. On the one hand, this helps pull the plot along without a lot of time to question or poke too many holes in it. On the other hand, I kept wondering why everyone just went along with the crazy parts. Although Blake’s POV happens occasionally, I wanted to know way more about his job and training, so I am hoping that will be another book. I thought how all the police just jump up and do whatever Raphael says at times unbelievable.

There are several things that make this book work: the chemistry between Jesse and Ian, having someone a reader can love to hate, and the friendships which give the book heart. Although the relationship between Ian and Jesse is fast, with the way things happen I didn’t have an issue with that. Where this author shines is individual scenes between characters. The book is very entertaining with likable main characters, but it could have been great instead of just good with more detailed world building, especially a more realistic view of the relationship between the vampires and law enforcement.

I loved the “Regent Park Pack” series by this author and so I was sure I was gonna love this new “vampire” series as well… I mean what is hotter than a badass vamp ??

This series actually reminded me a lot of the Regent Park series, especially with the way Ian was introduced to the vampire world.

Now as much as I enjoyed this book…it also really pissed me off because I wanted to kill the villain in this story myself !!!

I actually needed to stop reading a couple of times because I was so angry !!

Thankfully the MC’s were pretty great as were their BFF’s. Ian and Jesse were very sweet together..and hot…lets not forget hot. I myself would have been upset a bit longer than Ian though, but it’s not like he had any choice in the matter anymore anyway.

I was a bit disappointed with the steam level plummeting from beginning to end. If it would have been the other way around that would have been fine, but I don’t really like it when a book starts off all hot and ends lukewarm. Especially because I want to see/read about their connection when things are more serious between them !!

I think this first book was a great introduction to this new series and the world of vampires. I myself can’t wait to see what’s next… I hope it’s Raph’s book. Though I have to say that I am a bit upset with him for making such bad decisions. I expect more from a coven leader and so I hope he redeems himself a bit in the upcoming books.

Loved this book. It’s been a while since I read a vampire book and I sort of missed it. This has the pretty standard folklore/ mythology (speed,strength, death by sun etc.) so nothing new there.

Ian and Jesse are pretty hot together. Loved the chemistry and sex. Falling for a human when you don’t age is bad. I always think like one character will live forever and see the other grow old and die. But most books get around that so it’s alright. This one deals with that halfway through but I didn’t see that coming.

Peter. I fucking hate that sick bastard. He deserved what he got. This book makes you love the good characters and hate the bad ones. There’s no grey area. There were times I was on the edge of seat. Read it in one sitting and loved it.

I loved Lys and Cate. Badass female characters? Sign me right up. Raph and Liam. Is there something there? Or is it just me?(it’s probably just me)

*ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest and unbiased review