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1.) Blood Kiss ★★★★

Okay, so December wasn’t the best reading month for me. I’ll be completely upfront and honest, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert put me in a terrible reading slump. I was blaming being busy, and/or the holiday season, but then I read this book in like twenty-four hours and realized that I just needed to read a good book that I actually wanted to read, and Blood Vow was honestly the perfect pick. I enjoyed this immensely and I feel so thankful that it is the last book I read in 2017!

Even though Blood Vow is a second book in a series, it’s a spin-off series to the Black Dagger Brotherhood which is publishing its sixteenth book in 2018. It’s a huge series that I love with all my heart, but I completely understand that it’s quite the task to catch up to be able to read this series.

Basically, in the Black Dagger Brotherhood we follow a bunch of powerful vampires, that are in an elite group that protects humans, vampires, angels, and a bunch of other paranormal entities, and they all live in this big mansion, and they all are one big family that’s just saving the world. Well, in this series, Black Dagger Legacy, we get to see a younger generation as recruits, trying to join the elite protection force. And since this is book two, the cast is narrowed down to six trainees.

The trainee that is the star of this book is Axe, who is kind of your token bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks character, while he is falling for a girl who he feels is out of his league. And it’s not just any girl, but Axe’s fellow classmate’s cousin. This is just a trope that JR Ward loves to write, but honestly, she does it so well, I’m not even going to complain, but just take note that it is there.

Elise is from a powerful and wealthy vampire house, but after the horrible tragedy that happened in BOOK ONE, her family is being extra protective of her. All Elise wants to do is to be able to finish her college degree, but her father is making it rather difficult. That is, until he hires Axe to be her bodyguard to watch over her. (I bet you guys didn’t see that coming! *wink*)

We also follow Mary and Rhage’s adoption story with Bitty, and it was a completely joy to read! I mean, just in general I think that BDB really showcases the importance and power of found families all the time, but this book has such a moving and wonderful discussion on adoption. I loved this subplot so much. This is truly a story about how blood is only blood and how we all have the power to love and pick our family. Yet, it also showcases how sometimes sharing blood with someone who is not so great doesn’t mean that everyone you share blood with is not so great. I can’t tell you how much I love this storyline and how much I can’t wait to read all about Ruhn, who I believe is gay or bi and I’m living for it.

Overall, I just love this world that JR Ward has crafted. She is the absolute queen of PNR and she continues to impress me with stories that feel new and fresh constantly. Also, she still writes some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read, and you best believe that I was clutching my pearls reading that bonding scene. Lord, help me. I can’t wait for book three, Blood Fury, to drop on January 9th!

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