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    A Kiss of Blood
    A Kiss of Blood
    A Kiss of Blood
    Audiobook11 hours

    A Kiss of Blood

    Written by Pamela Palmer

    Narrated by Rebecca Estrella

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    One of the few humans who managed to escape the deadly twilight world of Vamp City, Quinn Lennox vows never to return. But the vampires want her back, for only she has the power to renew the magic of their crumbling world and free the vampires trapped within.

    When the dangerous and all-too-seductive Arturo Mazza comes for her, Quinn knows that she can never trust him after the betrayal she suffered at his hands. But with her beloved brother's fate hanging in the balance and her own power beginning to emerge, she chooses to risk it all on yet another perilous journey back to Vamp City. And though she tries to deny it, her heart begins to hold hope that even a ruthless vampire can learn the meaning of true love . . .Contains mature themes.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJul 7, 2015
    ISBN9781494583538
    A Kiss of Blood
    Author

    Pamela Palmer

    Pamela Palmer is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen paranormal romances including the Feral Warriors shape-shifter series, the Vamp City series, and the Esri series. When Pamela’s initial career goal of captaining starships failed to pan out, she turned to engineering, satisfying her desire for adventure with books and daydreams until finally succumbing to the need to create worlds of her own. Pamela lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

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    Reviews for A Kiss of Blood

    3.5/5

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    • 4/5
      Book 1 in the “Vamp City” seriesRating: 4 starsQuinn Lennox is seen working at the lab in the National Institutes of Health located in Bethesda, Maryland. She's got some strange things happening to her but she wants to keep it quiet. She has her younger brother, Zach, living with her. Something happens and they seem to find themselves in a parallel universe. Zack is a total geek. Instead of wondering about the situation, he wants to make a computer game. Pamela always surprises me by what she comes up with and “A Blood Seduction” is no exception. At the beginning I couldn’t wait to turn the page. Pamela has made her vampires slightly different from others and that’s what makes them interesting. Then brother and sister get separated. The Master, Arturo Mazza, desires Quinn but something just doesn’t seem right. It will be interesting to see as I read what that is. Pamela does a great job of making us think we are watching a Sci-Fi Channel movie. She also makes her heroine as tough as they come. I would want her around if I ever got into trouble.There were times when I found that the story was a little slow. It may be because that we are given so many plot twists. Pamela also gives the reader a lot of information about the alternate vampire world. This could be because this is the first book in the series. I’m hoping that the second book will not seem as slow.This alternate world is both dark and violent. Not a world you would want to visit. Usually vampires are romanticized in romance novels but this is more of a paranormal story and less on the romantic side. You will have to decide if Arturo is the romantic hero or not. I had 50 pages to go and I still hadn’t figured it out for myself.I’m down to the last 30 pages and I finally see Arturo do something nice with Quinn’s feelings in mind. But I found it to be a case of “a little too late”. In a way you will be surprised by the ending but in other ways you shouldn’t be. If you like your stories dark, you will probably love this book. If you love alternate universes, you will probably love this book. If you love Pamela’s Feral Warriors series, you will find this new series to be totally different. I found that I liked the book and am not giving up on the series. I will add the next book to my TBR list. It is expected to hit the shelves on June 25, 2013.
    • 3/5
      A Blood Seduction was both original and exciting, frustrating and aggravating. My excitement for it has everything to do with the world-building. This is truly the best part of the book. What frustrated me and keeps me from praising this book to the rafters is the heroine. Had the characters matched the originality of the world in which they were set, this book would easily have been a five star review for me. But, unfortunately, it failed to meet those expectations.Quinn Lennox is a researcher at the National Institute of Health, just outside of Washington DC. She lives with her younger brother, Zack, in an apartment they share near George Washington University where Zack is a student. All would be well with Quinn if she weren’t experiencing these unsettling visions – sometimes Quinn sees images of another world. She can look across the street from her apartment and see a dilapidated old brownstone where a modern building used to be. What she does not realize is that these visions are temporary portals to another world, a parallel Washington DC called Washington VC, or Vamp City. When looking for a friend who may have accidentally been pulled into one of these portals, both Zack and Quinn find themselves stranded in VC with no way out.Let’s start with what I liked about this book – the world. Vamp City is incredibly original. VC was created in 1870 by a sorcerer whose intention was to create a place specifically for vampires, where there is perpetual night, and the vampires rule supreme. The city is a weird combination of a city stuck in time (1870s) that has decayed and rotted, coupled with a few modern conveniences like cars and plumbing. The vampires are not the sparkly kind. These are brutal creatures who need both blood and other, less tangible things to survive. They are Emora, meaning they also feed off emotions like fear and pain. This makes for a very bleak world for humans who find themselves there. Oh, and did I mention old institutions like slavery are alive and well in VC? Yes, humans are slaves to vampires, kidnapped, put up on auction blocks, tortured and made into human chattel for vampire needs. This world is violent, brutal, bleak, disturbing, and original. Though there were some scenes that were hard to read, I have to give it up to Pamela Palmer for giving us a vampire world that is not sexy. Some authors create these worlds that are kind of scary, but are really just very cool and mysterious. Not so here. There were definite moments where I felt real fear for the human characters trapped in VC, a city you just want to get the hell out of. And right away. But when you create a world like VC, it’s very hard to create sympathy for the characters who control things there. Arturo, the vampire who captures Quinn and basically tries to make her his slave, is the “hero.” Huh, what? No matter how sexy his Italian endearments are, no matter what chemistry or attraction exists between the two, and no matter that he is a “good” slave owner…he’s still a slave owner!!! And because of that, I really could not find myself liking or caring about him. Furthermore, because Quinn seems to have mixed feelings about him, to her detriment, I have no respect for her and question her intelligence. This makes it hard for me to care about Quinn. She came across as brave but not bright, thinking with her pants and not her head. And while this does not stop her from always trying to reach her goal – finding and saving Zack – it makes for some annoying moments between her and Arturo where she is constantly battling her attraction to him…a slave owner! While I appreciate the courage of creating unredeeming characters like Arturo, I wish the heroine were a bit shrewder.The conclusion of this book almost saves it. Really. There is a twist that makes me interested in reading the next one…but only if I can get past the frustrating and lackluster Quinn.
    • 4/5
      A Blood Seduction is a terrific start to a new series. Palmer weaves together two separate worlds, our world and the world of Vamp City, flawlessly. Be warned that this book is extremely dark. It is not for the faint of heart or those who have weak stomachs. There are some very intense, graphic, and disturbing torture scenes. The vampires in this novel are extremely evil and pretty much soulless. There are a few exceptions, but none of them are actually good. However, if you can stand the torture scenes and sheer darkness of the book, the story is amazing. It's full of mystery, action, romance, intrigue, and well-developed characters. I can't wait to see what happens next in Vamp City. A Blood Seduction is told from various limited third person POVs. Somehow, Palmer manages to do this and still maintain an air of mystery around Arturo and his true intentions. There's a sense of urgency throughout the entire story because you don't know if Quinn's going to live from one minute to the next, and she's a likable character. Also, you don't know if Arturo is going to screw her over or be a knight in shining armor. The whole thing leads to a lot of frustration, but also the inability to put the book down. I read this all in one setting because I had to know what was going to happen. To me, that's the mark of a good book. All of the characters are well-developed, although extremely flawed. It's easy to tell who the narrator is following because of the very distinct personality traits of the characters. Also, the narrator's voice changes with each character change. It's almost like free indirect discourse, but a little more defined than that. I'm so torn over how I feel about Arturo. I can't decide if I like him yet or not. On the one hand, he's a very compelling character who obviously has some good in him, but on the other hand, he's such a freaking snake that I can't trust that he's actually going to do anything good in the long run. I almost like him because of my conflicting emotions about him. I would like to see more of his good side in the future, though. Quinn is likable and easy to relate to. She has unwavering loyalty, but a few self esteem issues and a bad temper. I like when characters are flawed. It makes them more realistic. The story follows Quinn the most, but slips into Zack's and Arturo's POV sometimes as well. The world Palmer created within Vamp City is intriguing and fascinating. The rules are clearly defined, but because no one is ever honest, it's hard to know which rules are actually true and which ones were made up to give people a false sense of security. An idea of an alternate universe that's stuck in the past and exists over our world is an interesting concept. The fact that some people can pass in between the two worlds and that people go missing because they are getting kidnapped and brought into the other world is even more fascinating. Palmer puts in some nice details about the landscaping, too, such as only dead trees can grow in Vamp City. And it's either dusk or night time... never full daylight. Also, even though Vamp City was created in 1870, it seems to be a mash-up of various time periods. Events like the Games and the banquets that are held and everything are throw backs to earlier times. The pacing for the story is spot-on, and there is never a dull moment within the plot. The entire plot is filled with action, adventure, suspense, and/or romance. The ending wraps things up nicely for this novel but leaves room for a sequel. It's not a cliffhanger, though, thankfully. However, the closing phrase has made me impatient for the second book, which is ridiculous because this one isn't even in stores yet. I have a long wait ahead of me!Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for the sequel. I'd recommend this book to fans of Patricia Briggs, Kelley Armstrong, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Kim Harrison. It's a bit darker than most of Briggs', Armstrong's and Harrison's work. However, if you can handle the torture scenes and really really evil bad guys, then you'll love this book!
    • 3/5
      Since I love Pamela Palmer’s Feral Warriors series I just knew I would love her newest series. Pamela Palmer has a way of capturing you and holding you so you don’t want to put down her books.That is what happened here. Even though I did not like the plot at all I still could not put it down. The story was just way too dark for me. It was more Urban Fantasy/Horror than Paranormal Romance. The hero, Arturo, is the worst hero I have ever read. I found nothing redeeming about him. I like Quinn and understood her determination to find her brother but what I don’t understand is how she was even remotely attracted to Arturo.Will I read book two in the series? No. This was way too dark, gruesome and not enough romance for me.
    • 4/5
      This is not the first time that I have had the opportunity to read from this author. I have read the first three books of her shifter series--which I loved so much I purchased them. So I have always liked her writing and voice in her stories. I didn't know if I would like Kiss of Blood, I still haven't read the first one in the series "Blood Seduction". So at the beginning I was a bit lost, and really there were some things mentioned which I had really wished I had read the first one before Kiss of Blood. With that being said, there was quite a bit that I enjoyed about this story. It has been a while since I have found a new vampire romance series that I just fall in love with. Even though the main supernatural creature is the Vampire, its a bit different. I really enjoyed reading the unique twist on Vampires in this one, and those who have already read this, know what I am talking about. I don't want to reveal too much away in this one, however I will say if you love a intense and fiercely passionate story...Kiss of Blood is for you! This new world that Palmer has created is sensational and will blow your mind! A stellar of a read! Enjoyed every moment from beginning to end. No complains here.
    • 1/5
      I hated A BLOOD SEDUCTION despite the fact that I have loved its various constituent elements in other, better books. I love really gritty, dark worldbuilding. I love intense plotting that pushes the characters to the limits of their endurance. And I love it when a hero starts out as a villain but might turn out to be good, eventually. One reviewer suggested that A BLOOD SEDUCTION's hero/villain Arturo was like a combination of Charlaine Harris' Eric Northman and Karen Marie Moning's Jericho Barrons, and, hey, sign me up for that.

      And you know what? Maybe he is. I mean, if you combine Eric at his most louche and Barrons at his most high-handed and stripped them of the qualities that make them appealing (Eric's infectious joie de vivre, Barrons' honesty).

      But the real difference here is the heroine. Eric and Barrons, sure, but also other anti-heroes who've turned into convincing romantic interests for me - Trent in Kim Harrison's Hollows series, Curran in the first couple of Kate Daniels books. You know what unites all those stories? Heroines who refuse to be jerked around. Heroines who force these bad boys to treat them with respect, as equals - and usually only in the wake of some pretty epic battles of wits or arms or both. It doesn't come easy. Most of all: heroines who hold a grudge WAY longer than readers.

      Quinn Lennox is NOT one of those heroines. She's passive and helpless. She's easily deceived. Arturo can treat her horribly one minute, but a page or two later if he turns on the charm Quinn will melt. Minutes after being enslaved, whipped, or otherwise terrorized, she will make out with Arturo. At one point, she's forced to attend a terrible, terrible torture orgy. She feels awful, so Arturo offers her a shower to make her feel better. A little bit of warm water is enough to make her totally forget about the atrocities she's witnessed and hanky panky ensues.

      I was revolted. Over and over again, Arturo tells her that he is who he is, explains his priorities and expectations...and over and over again, Quinn thinks that if she pleads and begs and puts out, he'll change his mind.

      A lot of reviewers have pointed out that A BLOOD SEDUCTION is an urban fantasy, not a romance - but I disagree. The author, Pamela Palmer, keeps falling back on traditional romance beats in the plotting. Very early on, Arturo promises Quinn that she's going to be his sex slave. So he declares his intention and then we get all these milestones along the way to consummation. So he undresses her in one scene, fondles her in the next, manual stimulation after that, until we finally arrive at the sex.

      The difference is that there's no HEA and no romance. There can't be a romance between them, because they aren't equals. Arturo has all the power, all the knowledge, and all the cunning. Quinn has nothing, and she's abused, manipulated, and mistreated from the first to the last page of this book. It wasn't fun to read. At all.

      Spoiler/example of heroine stupidity, because it's not enough to give the book one star, I have to vent: So around the 25% mark, Quinn escapes from Vamp City then decides to return so she can save her brother. She doesn't know a whole lot about the vamps, but she knows how fast and strong they are (very), and she knows that humans in VC are slaves, that she was repeatedly told she was "lucky" to be owned by a vampire who'd "just" make her clean the house and have sex with her and bite her. So for her return she packs...a few wooden stakes, some flashlights, and some breakfast bars. THAT'S IT. Six days to pack, and her only offensive weapon is a stake. When she's not at all sure stakes will kill vampires. Do you know how long it takes her to be recaptured after she returns to VC? Fifteen minutes. Because she packed wrong. Screw the breakfast bars, Quinn. Why didn't she go looking for a gun? Or ten? And maybe acid? Poison, a flamethrower, a motorcycle, grappling hooks...because it was time to play batman, and she was playing camp.
    • 4/5
      Listened for Review (Tantor)Overall Rating: 3.75Story Rating: 3.50Character Rating: 4.00Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: A Kiss of Blood by Pamela Palmer managed to make really get invested in the characters & world but the abrupt ending left me wanting.Overall Thoughts: So I have to admit that part of me really loved (like a strong 4.5 kind of thing) A Kiss of Blood. I got really invested in the characters, the story, and the pacing was fantastic. I thought the methodical beginning leading to the intense center of the story worked really well. It was the last 1/3 of the book that kind of took me from that to it was a good read. LET ME BE CLEAR: That means I liked the book, would recommend the book, but just didn't like it as much at the end as I did in the middle. I am not a fan of abrupt endings and this had one heck of one. I get that it is UF but it also made this book feel incomplete. That being said: 1: The writing was spectacular and the story flowed. 2: The characters finally made me care. Seriously I was rooting for Quinn and her brother. Arturo even somewhat grew on me though I still think he is a bit of an ass. The new characters broke my heart but also made me cheer (curse of listening to an audiobook--I am not even going to try to spell/list their names correctly). I felt this book was just very much more character driven and that worked so very well.3: I really want to know what happens next. As much as I didn't like the abrupt ending, it did make me hungry for more. This was slightly less dark than the first entry but not by much. So, if like me, you are a fan of dark UF then I think this series will work for you.Audio ThoughtsNarrated By Rebecca Estrella / Length: 11 hrs and 30 minsRebecca is really spot on for Quinn! I thought her voice showed the growth that Quinn had experienced from the first time in Vamp City. I liked the slight change in tone that really sold the performance. Arturo's voice and character grew on me this time so I am sure now that is more how I feel about the character than her narration of him that shapes how I hear him. She does a solid job with the male voices and I really hope that the 3rd book comes out on audio.
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A dark urban fantasy that toes the line towards paranormal romance. A Kiss of Blood has the feel of a filler novel and some readers may not like the complete 180 of a characters actions.Opening Sentence: F our more days until Quinn Lennox’s life, as she knew it, was over.The Review:A Kiss of Blood is the sequel to Pamela Palmer’s A Blood Seduction and this novel felt almost completely opposite of its predecessor. There are two big reasons why. One is that Arturo, the main love interest to Quinn, was completely evil in the first novel. He had no problem tossing Quinn away even with his intense interest in her. He went from being almost the ultimate bad boy to a puppy dog, hanging on to Quinn’s every word and promising to make up for his past sins so he could be the man she loved in every way. The second is that Vamp City is a terrifying and cruel world and the vampires let you know it on almost every page. In A Kiss of Blood they let you know how bad it is all the time but the cruelty isn’t seen until closer to the end so the extreme peril that Quinn is in doesn’t feel materialized until then.This series toes the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The same main characters are involved in the storyline, switching between Quinn and Arturo’s points of view. Their romance and attraction for each other is very apparent but will these characters have a happy-ever-after in this world? Lily, another character stuck in Vamp City, shows up every once in a while to update readers on her progress through the terrible Vamp City world.Absolutely do not pick up A Kiss of Blood unless you have read A Blood Seduction or you will be lost. Only a few weeks have passed since Quinn escaped Vamp City with her brother Zach after being trapped there. Quinn is trying to move on but she is having a hard time doing it when she keeps seeing people fall into the death trap that is Vamp City with no help or rescue coming. Then Zach is progressively getting worse with his illness and Quinn is pretty sure it is related to the fact that Vamp City is dying and the magic is somehow tied into her brother. Knowing that she has to go back and renew the magic to restore Vamp City, Quinn gives in and returns under the stipulation that she will be no one’s slave (and hopefully not be tortured).Quinn grows up a lot in this novel. She still wants to rescue everyone but this time she is more careful about it, knowing she can’t get caught if she wants to save her brother’s life. She makes some bold decisions which in turn help her learn more about the magic she has inside of her. When Quinn is confronted with her true nature, she breaks down, but it gives her the resolve she needs in order to continue with her mission.Arturo is a completely different character in thought and action. He is such a hard character to grasp. While I didn’t completely like him from the first novel since he seemed like such a heartless bastard, I wasn’t quite sure what to think when he kept following Quinn like a puppy dog and asking for her forgiveness and her love. His motives for not outing himself and saving Quinn are quite reasonable in this setting but I’m still not quite sure I like the complete 180 of his character.I was so completely engrossed with the storyline to A Kiss of Blood that the abrupt ending startled me. I saw the page numbers coming to a close but I felt the real story/battle was coming but it didn’t. Sadly, I have to wait for the next novel to find out what’s next for Quinn, Arturo, Zach and the rest of the gang. After thinking about it, A Kiss of Blood really felt like a filler novel helping to bridge a gap to an inevitable terrible showdown. A few major details were revealed but the real questions will be answered (I hope!) when the next novel comes out.Overall, I’m still a fan of Pamela Palmer’s writing style and this incredibly dark world that she has created. I will pick up a copy of the next book because if the way this one ended is any indication of the action we will see in the upcoming title, there will be a lot of craziness going on.Notable Scene:Suddenly, her back was up against the wall, her body pinned by that of a furious vampire.“It is my business. You are my business.” Arturo’s enunciation was slow and cold and dangerously precise. “You are mine, Quinn Lennox. Mine.”She gaped at him, speechless. “I’m not your slave. I’ve never been your slave, and I’m never going to be!”“Not my slave.” At her words, at her vehemence, his anger seemed to ease. He gripped her jaw with long, cool fingers. She tried to jerk away, but he held her fast. His voice lowered, softened. “You are mine, cara. The sunshine that warms my flesh. My sunlight.” His hold on her jaw tightened, though not unduly so. His expression grew tormented. “Do you have any idea how much I want you? Yet I do not push you. You have lost your faith in me. You are angry with me for handing you over to Cristoff and, dio Quinn, you have a right to be.”He released her suddenly, turning away, running a hand through his hair. “The things I saw today . . .” His voice was low with anguish. “I have watched his atrocities for months, years, and felt too little. Felt nothing.”Quinn stared at him, her own anger slipping away as she realized how shaken he really was. This wasn’t about Neo. This was about Cristoff.“What happened at Gonzaga Castle this morning, Arturo?” she asked quietly. Not that she really wanted to know. She didn’t.When he didn’t answer, she reached for him, sliding her hand down his back. She felt him tense and shudder. Slowly, he turned back to face her, his expression revealing little, but his eyes burning.He took her face in his hands. “He will never touch you again. I vow it.” His shoulders sank, his forehead tipping against hers. “Mio dio. You’ve changed me, cara. I cannot decide if I should thank you or hate you for it.”FTC Advisory: Avon/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of A Kiss of Blood. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      Right off the bat I can tell you I enjoyed A KISS OF BLOOD more than A BLOOD SEDUCTION. To recap I found Arturo and his dual persona's akin to experiencing whiplash and the ending left me disappointed. I enjoyed the world and most of A KISS OF BLOOD takes place in Vamp City so I enjoyed that aspect of both installments. I enjoyed Arturo a lot more in book 2. He was not up and down with his personality nor was he sneaky like before. You could 'feel' that he was genuinely interested in Quinn not just playing her. He still has more work to do on himself but he is coming along and I am liking him much more. I liked how Quinn stood up for herself more in A KISS OF BLOOD. She knew what she wanted and stuck to her guns for the most part. There is a lot of sadness revolving around Quinn's brother. He is dying and we find out some more about his involvement in the story. The new characters brought an interesting addition to the story. It shows a different side to the creatures living in Vamp City.A KISS OF BLOOD was not as dark as book 1 and had a little more romance thrown in. I am glad I gave book 2 a chance. I enjoyed it and it made me interested in continuing the series.
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI was a tad disappointing by decidedly less dark story in A KISS OF BLOOD. Part of what made A BLOOD SEDUCTION so intoxicating was the unbridled ferocity of it’s characters and world. Vamp City is literally a place were vampires rule, and these vampires feed on more than just blood. Emotions like fear, pain, and pleasure are sought after with equal abandon. The result was terrifying and tantalizing in turn. In A KISS OF BLOOD, all those depraved and delicious moments are somewhat sanitized.The Arturo from the first book was half villain, half hero, and I don’t think he always knew which side of him would prevail in any situation. He was the kind of character who evoked equal parts lust and loathing (a trembling combination). I was a little let down by the decidedly more noble vampire in this sequel. Instead of taking what he wanted and making no apologies fore his baser desires, he spends the whole book trying to prove himself to Quinn. I still liked him, but he became much more like a standard PNR hero than the intoxicating bastard from the debut.On the plus side, Vamp City is still one brutal place. Vampires, werewolves, demons, and fae are all pretty terrifying most of the time (especially fear vampire Cristoff and pleasure vampire Fabian). Nothing that happens here is safe or easy. These vampires know no restraint and the consequences are sometimes shocking. Don’t expect an HEA in this one (is that even possible in Vamp City?), but Pamela Palmer says there will be at least two, possibly three more books in the Vamp City series. I’ll certainly be back, hoping for a darker story next time, but all the same excitement and danger that I’ve enjoyed so far.Sexual Content:Sex scenes, a briefly described orgy, attempted rape
    • 4/5
      Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsThe first installment in this series was a little too dark for my tastes so I was reluctant to continue reading. I’m all for gore but rape and abusive relationships are just not things that I want in my fantasy world. However, upon hearing that the love interest was supposed to grow over the course of five books I rationalized that the 2nd novel couldn’t possibly be any darker than the first. Right? As luck would have it, my theory proved true. Quinn and Arturo actually work together in A Kiss of Blood and, she doesn’t get captured or tortured once! I enjoyed the world-building, Pamela Palmer’s supes are unique and complex; the plot’s life-or-death urgency is gripping and the character development is most definitely impressive. I didn’t like how this series began but I do like where it’s headed.I was grateful that Palmer revisited many of the key components that make up her Vamp City universe because I needed a refresher on the differences between Emora and Ripper vamps, who’s affected by VC’s magic, and the various feeder types. There are definitely a lot of rules in this world but that’s also part of its appeal. The plot’s fast paced and has a prevalent sense of impending doom which makes the book difficult to put down. Vamp City and Zack’s life are both on the line so everyone has something to lose. Quinn and Arturo’s priorities do clash at times but overall they are a team and I couldn’t be happier. I don’t expect the main couple’s relationship to be obstacle free but I do expect them to not stab each other in the back. I’m just sayin’.Arturo apologizes countless times to Quinn for his actions in A Blood Seduction which I found appropriate considering the level of douchebag-ness he demonstrated in the first installment. Not only does he have to earn her forgiveness but many readers’ as well I suspect, including mine. He made great strides but there is still more work to be done. I’ve really enjoyed Quinn’s progression as a character so far; I can understand Palmer wanting her to hit rock bottom before her upward climb to heroine status began but the way she actually did it still doesn’t sit right with me. That being said, Quinn’s come a long way in two books and I for one can’t wait to see her kick some vampire ass!There’s an interesting little side story developing with Lily and her mysterious vamp savior (?) and I look forward to learning more. The ending was a tad rushed in my opinion but as a whole this book satisfied my Urban Fantasy needs. A Kiss of Blood packs a powerful punch of blood, sex and violence that you won’t want to miss.