Tales of the Blood Kissed - Seleste deLa...

*I read this book for my own enjoyment.

Fun, sexy stories with characters I have enjoyed. We learn a history of Jocelyn, Max, Chad, and a touch more of Remy and his personality. The stories all made me smile, for different reasons - love, magic, humor, personal touches of the characters, and more.

There is a suggested order of reading the novellas in this book and the novels so you can get a feel for the characters as you go through the novellas, but you don't have to read in that order.

These are smexy stories. So going in expect to read hot scenes. I have enjoyed the intimate scenes Seleste writes. They fit well with the characters, even in such short segments. There are a few small typos, but the fun I had with the characters covers those few.

Part One: The Story You Know...
Of Course I Try:
Oh I forgot how much I loooove Max. Chad is cute, but Max is my favorite.

This story is in flashes, as Jocelyn remembers things with Max. And leaves him. And returns to Max. In this short story we see how Jocelyn met Max and how she met Chad. If you've read the novels, you know both men are important to Jocelyn and in her life.

Max seems like a drug Jocelyn tries and tries to give up, but finds her way back to his loving, warm embrace. Yet there is always something missing... He's always gone when she wakes and she's weak from love making and always a vague memory loss. Deja vu, we've done it again. Jocelyn feels the need to leave as this is not her home even though told she is always welcome

Jocelyn never seems to get to say goodbye, but does get to do something else instead. Good girl.


The Cost of Love:
This short is from Max's view as Jocelyn arrives that one last day, needing to talk to him. Oh I do love him. But aside from the love I have for him, there is a hint of something else going on. We heard Max tell Jocelyn he was keeping her safe in the first story, now we see him think it. What is out there that Jocelyn needs to be kept safe from? And Why?

We know from reading Jocelyn's side of the story that Max has some sort of Magic. We learn of that here from Max's thoughts as well. Magic through words and touch, a push. He's afraid to push to far, for her to forget their time together yet a hint of some other worry with it as well. He wants her to remember, that he loves her.

We hear his thoughts at this very important moment with Jocelyn.

What Have I Done:
This one is extremely short, but we see Jocelyn work to get over what she's done.


The Ghost of Vampire Present:
This is a longer novella. One where we meet Jocelyn's grandmother. Oh, she's a special case of her own. lol.

The feel of the three ghosts in the way of the three vampires. The last vampire that could be considered the future vampire, could be one we'll see in the novels. ;) Oh this novella is a very interesting and sexy Vampire twist on A Christmas Carol.

Oh the hints in this novella! There is something special about Jocelyn. What? It has something to do with what these three vampires want from Jocelyn. Max is remembered, and I'm curious how he manages to do this (as I really do think it's real). The current boyfriend, that cute guy named Chad from the dance in Of Course I Try...yeah it's him. Yum.

Jocelyn has been trying to be stronger since Max. She's started self-defense classes and fighting better along with becoming more physically fit than she ever has.

I have to say I love the description of the ghost. Yes, it's someone she knew.
"She's the antithesis of the fairy godmother I'd always wished for. All she needs now is a lit cigar between her fingers to totally bastardize that particular childhood fantasy."

In the morning Jocelyn gets ready for Christmas at her mothers and waits for her boyfriend. We see clues that last night might not have been a dream... but then things change and answers aren't connecting with what happened, so maybe it all was in her mind after being out with the girls drinking and all.

I'm left curious as to what was real and what was a dream. I think it's all real, but there is more than real and not here, there's secrets. This story can lead you in to read the first novel, Kiss of Death to learn more about the secrets you start to see here.

This is definitely a romance, with intimate moments.


Part Two: In The Very Beginning...
Birth of the Vampires
Remus, Remy, shares a story with us. Well, with children. It's not really a story for children, but it's not so terrible for them. It's a twisted tale of Romulus and Remus. And we are left with the impression that Remus is our Remy.

Of course we see Remy hitting on a lady. What a feel we get for Remy here.


Part Three: Becoming Heroes
Devil's Bargain:
This story is how and why Max is made into a vampire. Did Max really know what he was getting into? Not really. But it starts the relationship Max has with Remus.


Christmas in Chains:
Max has spent years as a slave and being tortured on Christmas as his makers hands. On Christmas his special gifts were of a cruel nature that were meant to teach a lesson. This Christmas, Max will get a Christmas miracle.

This story has a twist to Remus's cruel actions toward Max. They are meant to teach. One example we get is how people feel when they are feed from without glamour used.

This story brings someone into Max's life. Someone who could return at any point demanding a favor or any proportion. Something I'd be curious to see. And then there's the question of who sent this person.


Never Underestimate a Bored Vampire:
Remy is watching the riots in Detroit, bored. He's been waiting here watching the Cooper line for the Blood Kissed prophesied one, which he'd made sure Max had meet Analise without Max knowing.

Oh Remy. He knows more than we could have suspected! He knows of the Blood Kissed and Cooper blood line. Remy even has a way of influencing Max's actions, who thought he got away from Remy and who Remy had formed into a warrior.

We see Remy work a little magic as well. And how Remy has a hand in maneuvering things for what he wants, even if it is to keep him from being bored.

This story shows how Chad got dragged into the vampire world. Seeing Remy involved in Chad's turning...now I'm curious what Remy is up to. What's his ending game plan?


Part Four: Remy Says
Remy Says: Top Ten Ways to Annoy the Council of Elders
Remy does a blog post! This quick section highlights Remy and his fun games with the Council of Elders. Well, a quick list of ten ways he enjoys annoying the council. You get a feel for Remy's personality in each item.

Oh you would be so in trouble if you did these things, but Remy doing them... yea, they would be irritated and Remy would be smiling. lol.

Remy Says: Guide to Demons
Remy talks about Demons, whether they exist or not. We also get a small mention to werewolves and fae along with incubi. These are a few beings we'll see in the stories. But demons...

Remy Says: Killing Vampires for Fun and Profit
Remy tells of the vampires to go after and with what equipment would work best. But... it sounds like it's a rough battle no matter what. I better rally my friends and ready for the war.

Boy does Remy have a strong personality. He shines through in each post.

Remy Says: Must Love Pets
Remy on pets. This article strays from the pets we know to the pets he knows, and enjoys. Maybe his pet can take care of an animal pet...

Remy Says: Sex with Vampires
Just reading this title, I know Remy will love this post. And I'm curious what will be said by Remy...

And we get Remy's natural grace as he lets us know what to expect when having sex with a vampire (or more than one).

I can just hear Remy so calm and sexy talking to us about all these items.

Greta had a gift of being able to pinpoint trouble and had been hired by TRAIT for that reason. Her partner is Nico, who has the ability to manipulate anyone except Greta. They are both attracted to each other.

I read 1/3 of this book and it just didn't keep my interest.

*I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review

Again, the synopsis does very well by the book so I'm not going to reiterate what's there.

Greta is special. She might have issues socializing and a few OCD's but she's got a knack for finding cases TRAIT needs to follow through on. Greta's ability to see patterns tells her something is off in the cases lately. But she has no evidence of a mission to go on to stop it, and prove it's really something going on. Greta's determined to find that something and solve what's going on. Greta references all three cases we've read in the series and that they shouldn't have fallen to TRAIT to solve. I like the quick touch of memory for the previous books, especially since this is the last of the series.

Now, pair Greta with Nico who is special in his own way. He vocally can influence people to do what they already want to do, but stop from doing it. He has a grand ability to communicate!

These two don't seem as they should be a perfect pair at first, but as I read I felt they were the heads and tails of the same coin. They completed the others ability were the other was a bit lacking. Their personalities compliment each other well too.

In this story we get the tie in of all the previous stories along with seeing each character for a few. This is definitely Greta and Nico's story but it's a bonus to see the others one last time with them.

I smiled the whole way through this story. I enjoy the chemistry between the characters as they stand their own as an individual, love each other for it, and compromise with the one they come so close to. And the geek references are always awesome!

The series are HEA books for the characters, which makes me happy too. It's sad to see the series end as I've enjoyed the fun of it each time.

The synopsis of the book is spot on. So I'm not going to describe anymore as it'd be the same thing repeated. This is also going to be a short review as I don't want to give to much away or mush about how much I enjoyed this story and couple.

I had fun with this story. I pretty much finished it in one day. The "fighting" connection of Jodi and Finn have here is frustrating and challenging for them, but fun for me to read. They make quick jokes when working at each other's nerves.

Jodi and Finn strike me as two sides of the same coin. They both have different reactions and outcomes in their lives to a very powerful moment they lived through.

Jodi has spunk. But she hates having to assert her "rank" over Finn from the first meeting. But Finn reminds her of a past partner that didn't fair well in the field due to his lack of respect for her ability to do her job. She thinks in order to help Finn, and keep him from the same path of her last partner, she needs to do just this to make him better.

Finn is a bit different. He is like, from Jodi's view, her past partner yet he's not. From the moment he helped the little girl, I knew it (and I think Jodi too). He has a soft side and can be worked with, no matter how lone wolf he comes across. He does, however, have a past that affects his thinking on working and trusting others, one that also had the outcome of death. And he doesn't want it to happen again.

Their mission! I have to mention the senator's daughter. That's such a surprise! I liked this little twist.

I always have fun with the books in this series. They are shorter stories but fun with the banter and connecting the couple does through out. It is a sexy romance that has intimate moments. I will be looking forward to the next couple in TRAIT's agency. I think I know who it may be.

Jocelyn has been training for 7 months, and raising an army of separate groups of supernaturals. She's also been avoiding Chad and Max, and they have been behaving and working hard as her generals. A supernatural war is on the horizon along with so much more in the works. The newest member of their cause, the Nain Rouge. But is it good or bad to have him on their side? Remy, a rock star elder vampire, has his own plans which stirs things up faster. The sorcerer Jocelyn, Chad, and Max tangled with before wants his revenge. Someone is attacking those close to Jocelyn to draw her out in the open.

The first third or so of the book is from different point of views. I didn't feel invested in anyone fully until about 35% into the book. Another thing I felt was the author seemed to be pushing to tell us there were characters up to no good and direction others like puppets. A few comments would have been good, then let it shack out for the reader, which it did do after the beginning.

Then something clicked for me and it took off. All ironed out and flowed smoother for me. The characters started to come together, in good and bad ways, and I started to want to read the characters more and what was to come from the attacks and the pending war. I wanted to see each side as to if they would live, find love, and what would happen next to drive them over the edge.

The different point of views we get are from Remy, Jocelyn, Chad, Max, Dominick (a Vampire Elder), Pierre Maisson (an assassin among the supernatural), Logan (a werewolf on Jocelyn's team), and Vianco Nago (A Hunter of vampires). All these characters show all the works and strings that each player in the story is pulling to drive the world and characters. So many events in the works.

Don't let this discourage you. This is a great way to see it all as it's happening. And you'll want to know. The small quirks that I felt early on in the story will NOT stop me from continuing with this series. I love the world and the romance here in Jocelyn's story.

Each character has their own personal baggage along with the supernatural baggage of the world where different beings don't easily blend and work together. Things are moving forward and Jocelyn is trying to pull as many elements into her army as possible to fight the powerful Elders of the Vampires. This draws a bigger world of supernatural and beliefs by bringing these beings together and seeing how they react.

There is romance here, a blooming one along with the heat of those familiar. Jocelyn is still battling herself in need to make a choice. Events bring her closer to her men, then also pull her away. It's hard in a time of war and conniving others work against her for their own benefits.

At the end... oh my! Where the characters end... Gah! I am curious and want to see what is next with all of them. ALL of them. lol.