I received a copy from Netgalley.

This was also an additional book in one of my Fairyloot subscription boxes so I got a signed paperback as well.

I didn’t dislike it, I wasn’t particularly blown over with it either. It’s just another generic YA fantasy set on the high seas. In this one the heroine Marianne lives on her father’s ship. Her mother died when she was a young child. Her father is the Viper, the protector of the 12 Isles. But they’re more like pirates and assassins – ruthless, cruel and brutal. Marianne is supposed to take over one day.

However, she doesn’t seem to have the violent streak a Viper needs. She’s not dim by any means. She has a conscience and thinks things could be done better. Because she’s a girl she’s treated like crap by the crew. She has one companion – an older lady who has helped train her who treats her like a person. She was once close to one of the boys her age, but circumstances made him turn his back on her.

She’s betrothed to the Prince of the royal family the Viper serves. The prince appears to be condescending and arrogant. On the night of her official initiation as a Viper everything goes wrong and things happen and Marianne is forced to flee. Pursued by her father’s crew over the 12 isles she discovers nefarious plots and a secret about her own past that could have a massive impact on the 12 Isles and the Eastern Lands they’re on the brink of war with.

The prince isn’t the asswipe he seems to be – and there’s much more too him. Alliances are drawn, plots are uncovered, other Royalty is determined to be selfish and useless and things need to massively change. It’s up to Marianne and her companions to make this happen.

It wasn’t by any means a bad book, - it was just kind of okay. I liked Marianne as a character, she had a code of honour and a brain and thought logically. She was emotional but wasn’t ruled by her emotions. The prince turned out to be a really interesting character as well. The writing was okay, the story was okay. There just wasn’t anything about this book that really stood out to bring it apart from other sea based YA fantasies.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette Children’s Books for the review copy.

Welcome to May, Readers! I am starting off the Month by visiting with the Sons of Sangue! Enjoy and don't forget to add Viper by Patricia A. Rasey to your shelves!

Kane 'Viper' Tepes is one of the oldest living descendants of Vlad III. Vampirism is in his blood. So is being the President of the Sons of Sangue. Those who break motorcycle club rules that protect their coven are dealt swift punishment. No exceptions. Until one pretty little detective has him compromising his beliefs, and endangering his position as head of the MC.

Vampirism had Cara Brahnam turning tail and leaving behind her life in Pleasant. Now, ten years later, she's back as lead detective and wants to see the person responsible for draining the women of Lane County brought to justice, no matter what deal the gang of miscreants has struck with the sheriff. Or the fact that her number one suspect is the sole reason she fled in the first place.

Now someone has targeted Cara as the next victim and Kane must join in the hunt to find the ancient vampire that wants her dead.

Being the President of the Sons of Sangue is in Kane ‘Viper’ Tepes blood. As the lead detective, Cara wants to see the person responsible for draining the women of Lane County brought to justice. Now Cara has been targeted as the next victim and Kane must join the hunt to find the ancient vampire that wants her dead, even if it compromises his beliefs and endangers his position as the head of the MC.

The first book in the dangerously appealing new vampire MC world is an exhilarating and thrilling read that readers definitely want to be a part of. The characters are strong, vivid and easily enthrall readers with their story and Viper and Cara have some serious chemistry going on which singers with every word. The relationship between them has sparks flying everywhere as Cara and Viper both fight their magnetic attraction which keeps this relationship on a rocky and turbulent slope that readers can’t help but enjoy, especially when all that pent up passion explodes.

Thrilling suspense and adrenaline pumping excitement keeps reader glued to each and every page as the danger to Cara escalates and the friction that Viper and Cara’s relationship is causing with the MC causes tempers to erupt. Unexpected twists keeps readers as well as the characters on their toes while ensuring that readers won’t want to miss a second of this exhilarating read that takes in a brilliantly creative world full of devastatingly sexy vampire bikers that gives new meaning to words ‘born to be wild’!

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17982861-viper

BookLikes - http://booklikes.com/viper-patricia-a-rasey/book,10604063

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/viper-sons-of-sangue-book-1-by-patricia-a-rasey

Riffle - https://www.rifflebooks.com/books/345912

Romance.io - https://www.romance.io/books/5455658387eac323ffb2bfff/viper-patricia-a-rasey

GBooks - https://books.google.com/books?id=VUbKngEACAAJ&dq=patricia+a+rasey+viper&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVjYXgrt3hAhUIjq0KHat3DYcQ6AEIKjAA

Viper is the 1st book in the Sons of Sangue series.

Author - https://www.patriciarasey.com/sons-of-sangue-1

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MQSW9MQ?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

1 Viper
2 Hawk
3 Gypsy
4 Rogue
4.5 Draven
4.6 Preacher
5 Xander
6 Ryder
7 Wolf

AVAILABLE in print or ebook

 CURRENTLY FREE 

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DXU05C2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DXU05C2&linkCode=as2&tag=patriarasey

USA Today bestselling author Patricia A. Rasey resides in her native town in Northwest Ohio with her husband, Mark, and her lovable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Todd and Buckeye.

When not behind her computer, you can find Patricia working, reading, watching movies or MMA. She also enjoys spending her free time at the river camping and boating with her husband and her family. Ms. Rasey is a retired third degree Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate.

Ms. Rasey is available for appearances and workshops...

Website - https://www.patriciarasey.com/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1258993.Patricia_A_Rasey

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PatriciaARasey

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/patriciarasey

InstaGram - http://instagram.com/parasey

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/parasey

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/patricia-a-rasey

Being the President of the Sons of Sangue is in Kane ‘Viper’ Tepes blood. As the lead detective, Cara wants to see the person responsible for draining the women of Lane County brought to justice. Now Cara has been targeted as the next victim and Kane must join the hunt to find the ancient vampire that wants her dead, even if it compromises his beliefs and endangers his position as the head of the MC.

The first book in the dangerously appealing new vampire MC world is an exhilarating and thrilling read that readers definitely want to be a part of. The characters are strong, vivid and easily enthrall readers with their story and Viper and Cara have some serious chemistry going on which singers with every word. The relationship between them has sparks flying everywhere as Cara and Viper both fight their magnetic attraction which keeps this relationship on a rocky and turbulent slope that readers can’t help but enjoy, especially when all that pent up passion explodes.

Thrilling suspense and adrenaline pumping excitement keeps reader glued to each and every page as the danger to Cara escalates and the friction that Viper and Cara’s relationship is causing with the MC causes tempers to erupt. Unexpected twists keeps readers as well as the characters on their toes while ensuring that readers won’t want to miss a second of this exhilarating read that takes in a brilliantly creative world full of devastatingly sexy vampire bikers that gives new meaning to words ‘born to be wild’!

Much better than the first one. 
Although there were quite a lot of grammar mistakes, I was hooked from the start. I still struggled with the choices the woman belonging in a club made, but who am I to judge. I actually started liking Evie a lot in this book. And I liked Viper so much more than Razer. I also enjoyed how clever Winter was. The way she got Shade's vote made me giggle.
This series seems like a puzzle. Every book has a full story but author gives you some extra pieces until you discover that you have put together only one fragment. I already downloaded Knox's Stand. And I have the whole weekend to enjoy it. 

This reader's personal opinion, ©2019, all rights reserved, not to be quoted, clipped or used in any way by goodreads, Google Play, amazon.com or other commercial booksellers* 

I love how this author writes and am always drawn into her worlds.

But, this one -- while a very good book -- disappointed me. It was too sweet, too "easygoing," too forced in the banter because it went on for so long at start of book. But what really disappointed was how softened the characters of Sorrow/Holly and Venom were.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed their story and am glad I read it. It just didn't seem like I was reading about Sorrow and Venom but instead entirely new characters. I'm happy for their happy-ish "ending" but expected more action and tension from these two. Possibly it's just that I was really over-anticipating Venom's story and didn't appreciate some wishy-washy parts. Based on past books, I like these characters as a couple; based on this book, I just don't get the romance element which made for something really missing.

All that said, I'm still looking forward to rest of the series.

*©2019.  All rights reserved except permission is granted to author or publisher (except Penumbra Publishing) to reprint/quote in whole or in part. I may also have cross-posted on Libib, LibraryThing, and other sites including retailers like kobo and Barnes and Noble. Posting on any site does not grant that site permission to share with any third parties or indicate release of copyright.  

Ratings scale used in absence of a booklikes suggested rating scale:

★★★★★ = All Time Favorite 
★★★★½ = Extraordinary Book. Really Loved It.
★★★★☆ = Loved It.
★★★½☆ = Really Liked.
★★★☆☆ = Liked.
★★½☆☆ = Liked parts; parts only okay. Would read more by author.
★★☆☆☆ = Average.   Okay. 
★½☆☆☆ = Disliked or meh? but kept reading in hopes would improve.
★☆☆☆☆ = Loathed It. Possibly DNF and a torturous read.
½☆☆☆☆ = So vile was a DNF or should have been. Cannot imagine anyone liking.  (Might also be just an "uploaded" word spew or collection that should not be dignified by calling itself a "published book." If author is going batshit crazy in the blogosphere over reviews -- I now know why they are getting bad reviews.  Or maybe author should take remedial classes for language written in until basic concepts like using sentences sink in. Is author even old enough to sign a publishing contract or do they need a legal guardian to sign for them?)