A FIRE IN THE BLOOD ... Amanda Ashley does a great vampire romance with plenty of drama thrown in. Andrei is seven hundred years old and Tessa can't get him out of her head. Throw in a good friend Jilly and her boyfriend Luke the newbie vampire slayer and a _itch of a first wife named Katerina....and an old fortune teller.....and you get a great story.

This book took me back to the old world feel of the original feel of a vampire romance Andres character had those debonair feel that I used to love in other vampire romances. The storyline itself wasn't original but the story itself was so well written you didn't really notice.

This clipped review can also be found on Amazon and Goodreads. My full review can be found on my Wordpress blog - Flora's Musings...

So, what did I like about it?
Amanda Ashley is a new-to-me author and I enjoyed her easy to read, writing style. I never felt lost in this story; the first chapter sets up the world, introduces our leading lady, Tessa Blackburn, and the relevant background for the story.

The pace of this tale isn't fast or frantic and it’s definitely not dark or gritty but it does have suspense and oodles of romantic gestures.

The suspense comes from never knowing when or where Tessa will be attacked by vampires; her blood calls to them. I should mention that the scenes in the book where killings, fighting and hunting take place are never explicit or described using vivid imagery.

The romance element starts very soon after our romantic couple meet, which some reviews have frowned on but don’t we hear about people who experience life threatening incidents forming instant attachments? I think so. Where this book differs from so many others is the fact that our main character, Tessa, believes in (and practices) the Christian value of no sex before marriage, so it was a refreshing change to see the sexual relationship between her and Andrei, being allowed to develop over the chapters; I enjoy it when the physical side of a relationship is allowed to bloom gently, prolonging the sexual anticipation of when they will finally do the deed.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
I understand that this book is first and foremost a romance novel, focussing on the evolving relationship between Tessa and Andrei, however, I am disappointed that there wasn’t more made within the story about the mystery of Tessa’s blood. I would have loved them to research it more; why is it so special? Surely all the vampire hunters in town could be tapped for information, the internet maybe or a trusted witch, gypsy or shaman? I just found it a bit frustrating; researching the mystery could have added an extra dimension to the story.

So, basically what I’m saying is...
This is a good paranormal romance and I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book if you like books in the young adult (YA) genre or sweet paranormal romances. If, however, you are looking for a dark and gritty vampire romance, then this isn’t for you.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

10 years ago, Tessa received an eerie and disturbing reading from a Carnival psychic. She wasn't too fond of them to begin with but this reading really shook her up although she didn't understand what she was told.

One night, Tessa is saved from an attack that would surely end her life. There have been stories about "vampire" attacks in the newspapers but it is ridiculous since there is no such thing as a vampire! What Tessa learns will turn her life upside down....

It seems Tessa has "special blood" and rumor has it that her blood with strengthen new vampires, so she is definitely a target. Andrei saves her one night and this is the beginning of their relationship. Andrei knows he must now protect her but he didn't count on his feelings for her...

Can Andrei keep her safe? Will she be able to accept the reality of supernatural beings? How will she handle her feelings for Andrei especially when she learns what she really is?

This is an awesome book, I didn't want to stop reading! Along with the main characters, we have Tessa's friend Jilleen, a vampire hunter and Andrei's sire who wants him bad. She is the description of evil and cruel?

Will they survive and love? You'll have to read to find out!

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet vampire tale. Tessa is a sweet homebody minding her own life when she becomes #1 on the vampires must munch list. Apparently there is an anomaly in her blood that is said to make vampires stronger and word has gone out in the vampire community. Andrei Dinescu is a master vampire who has problems of his own but he isn’t about to see the little human be killed for a rumor. I loved watching the relationship between Andrei and Tessa grow. The secondary characters kept it real and added some spice to the story. Check reality at the door and enjoy.

Vampires are flocking to Cutters Corner. Tessa for some reason has turned into a magnet for them. When a Tessa is saved from a vampire attack by Andrei, little does she know what her savior is. As they get to know each other, he tells her he is an antique dealer and a hunter. Of course, he leaves out the part about being a seven-hundred-year-old vampire! The cause of the attacks is because of her blood, although why is a mystery until they find out it ties to a gypsy who read Tessa's fortune ten years earlier. When Tessa discovers Andrei is a vampire, she's at first frightened, but their growing attraction overrides her fear. Now she has to find out if it's her or her blood that has Andrei wanting her.

It has been a while since I was able to lose myself in a vampire story. Unfortunately, I found Fire in the Blood to be just passable. It lacked the darkness and fire I want in a book. Tessa I never really warmed up to. She was just wasn't a very strong character for me. As for Andrei, I like my leading men to be more Alpha, which I didn't find him to be. Once the story of how Andrei was made into a vampire by Katerina everything got too predictable. The ending wasn't too hard to puzzle together. Jileen and Luke, saw that coming a mile away. Her I found rather annoying and Luke, how is it that he can sense vampires? I'm racking my brain trying to remember if it was explained. Really only thing I found surprising was the spin on Tessa's blood. Honestly, it wasn't a bad book, it was just not very riveting for me. That is except for Bailey and Tristan. I just totally loved Bailey! I would love to see her get her own book.

Fire in the Blood is my first book by author Amanda Ashley. While I didn't find any fire in the book, which the exception of some arson, it was still a passable read. Despite not being able to completely lose myself in the storyline, I would still recommend this book to readers who prefer PNRs that are not too dark.

reviewed by Jac

Vampires have "come out" to the public a few years earlier and they are especially prevalent in Cutter's Corner. The reason is because a gypsy has told them about a girl, Tessa, whose blood gives special powers to vampires. Andrei, a 700 year-old vampire is drawn to Tessa and wants to protect her from other vampires who want to drain and kill her. Good paranormal romance read!

I'm a bit surprised to find out this is the first book I've read from this author, though I have seen her books many times on paranormal book lists.

As first book to read of an author goes, well, this is probably the wrong book to choose. The story moved too slow, the characters are a little hard to get to know or even like or root for, and the antagonist is stereotypical. I got bored with this book. And I normally enjoy paranormal stories!

I'll look for another book of hers to try but this was a dud for me.

I received this book for an honest and unbiased review from the publisher.
I am an avid vampire fan, meaning I will pick up just about anything from horror to paranormal romance if they contain vampires in their plot. That being said Amanda Ashley writes good vampire. Her vampire characters are interesting in their backstories and keep the reader's interest.
A Fire in My Blood follows vampire Andrei Dinescu as he falls in love with the very mortal Tessa Blackburn. Tessa isn't a mere mortal though, her blood is that of an old Native American Medicine man; meaning that if given freely her blood can heal and if taken against her will her blood can kill. But for the vampire she falls in love with her blood is an enticing gift that brings dangers untold (especially in the form of Andrei's maker and wife).
The plot was decent, but I got hung up on the interactions and the unbelievable dynamics that went on between on Andrei and Tessa in the course of their relationship. At one point while Andrei's wife is pursuing Tessa, Tessa tells Andrei that he may sleep with Katerina to keep her away from Tessa. Big problem if this is supposed to be a paranormal romance- I have never met a woman who is okay with the man she's falling for, or in love with, sleeping with someone else. That part of the story kicked me out and I had a difficult time getting back into it. Never before had I encountered a story where the heroine tells the hero to sleep with the evil bad guy. Not cool on so many fronts.
Also after the initial meeting of the main couple, the story seams to be get a little sloppy. It doesn't feel like a cohesive story, but a hodgepodge (a bit of a mess, really). I hate saying that considering I have a collection of Amanda Ashley's books on my shelves, but there you have it. Fans of the cheesy will doubtless eat this one up, but beyond that I don't recommend.
2.5 Stars

another classic Amanda Ashley vampire romance. Good.

A fire in the blood by Amanda Ashley is a vampire romance. Tessa is attached one night by vampires trying to kill her. A handsome stranger comes to her rescue. Her town is under attack by vampires. Little does Tessa know they are out to get her for her special blood. Andrei falls for Tessa and wants to protect and love. She doesn't know he's a vampire. There's a problem with a woman whose his wife she either gets him back or destroy Tessa! This book is highly recommend I can't wait for more by this wonderful author. Action, adventure, romance this book has it all!!

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

This is the first book I've read from this author and I have to admit while it was a nice if somewhat predictable read I'd expected (hoped for) something a little darker and grittier.
When she's fifteen years old Tessa visits a fairground gypsy and is told:

I see a man. He is old. Very old. He will come into your life in a moment of danger. He will watch over you and protect you. The gypsy s hand gripped Tessa s tighter. He will bring you death, she whispered, her voice like the rustle of dry leaves. And life.

Ten years later and Tessa is now living in Cutters Corner and it has a serious vampire problem, they're everywhere which has attracted vampire hunters as well. The quiet town is nowhere near as quiet as it once was and strangely Tessa seems to be right in the middle of it.
Tessa is saved from a vampire attack by the incredibly handsome Andrei Dinescu who it turns out isn't the hunter she expected but a seven hundred year old vampire.
Not only do we get Tessa and Andrei's story but we also get the romance of Tessa's best friend Jilly and Luke and then Bailey and Tristan as well so three romances for the price of one.
So what's going on with all the vampires in town?
Word has got round that Tessa's blood is special that it makes fledgling vampires stronger and so vampires are travelling from all over to try it for themselves.

As I said I'd hoped for a darker read but that wasn't my only problem this is also a very predictable read with one exception. Tessa annoyed me at times and Andrei seemed a little too hung up on money for a seven hundred year old vampire and while I know he's trying to impress Tessa all it did was annoy me.

“From Chateau Montelena. One hundred fifty dollars a bottle.”

You wouldn't would you? Turn up with a bottle of wine and say how much it cost.

Andrei was just a bit too wishy washy for me, personally I like my vampires a little more dark, dangerous and alpha.
Jilly. I have mixed feelings on Jilly at times she seems like a good friend but then it's like a switch has been flicked and she becomes an overbearing expert on everything.
Tessa again at times she was okay but the constant doubting everything got to me after a while.
But Bailey, I loved Bailey and while I appreciated that the author didn't drag this out I felt in this case Bailey deserved her own book.
If Bailey and Tristan are life mates surely he would have been watching her closer because as it turns out he nearly lost her.

We never find out (unless I missed it) why Luke can detect vampires, this is not really important but I was curious.

Finally. I don't want to add a huge spoiler because I know I personally can never resist them and I don't want to spoil this but I had issues with the experiment as well.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books.

When it comes to writing vampire romance, Amanda Ashley is one of the best. But with her latest vampire romance “Fire in the Blood” it was just okay. The plotline was kind of interesting when I read the description. But Fire in the Blood couldn’t get past the description. It hurt me to say that this book wasn’t one of Amanda Ashley best. The story was slow and the chemistry between the two characters felt rushed.
I did like the twist on the blood. And the secondary characters of Bailey and Tristan. But other than that, Fire in the Blood was an okay read just not a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this novel.

3.5 stars

It was a...good..read. I did enjoy it. It kept me entertained. enough that I read it in about two sittings. I just didn't love it. It's not something I would reread and there was a few things in the story I didn't enjoy that much which brought my rating down unfortunately.

The romance between Andrei and Tessa happened very fast. I would have preferred more build up, or resistance to being together. Instead they kissed very early on and there was a lot of sex talk shortly after that. It was not quite insta love but it was about halfway there.

The story was very predictable. Her friend meets a guy, and BAM they're married by the middle of it. Yet, I did see that coming. The ending of this, I saw happening early on given the romance that was built between them. The ending defeat I saw happening as soon as they showed that character.

The introduction of that teenage were was nice for the story with Tessa, but her whole mating romance I would have LOVED to see as a second novel. I'd like to say we'd still get one with her as an adult, but her story seems finished by the epilogue.

What I did enjoy plot wise was the twist on her blood. How we were led to believe one thing when it actually wasn't so. it took me by surprise.

Again, although a lot of this sounds bad, I did enjoy the read. Or I wouldn't have finished the book, and as fast as I did. I have other books by this author that I still plan on trying out. Although this book wasn't an A+ for me, her other ones may hit the mark. Since I still enjoyed this one, I won't rule her out as an author until I try more by her.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

2.75 Hearts So this was a difficult story to read. First there are a number of “typical” vampire characteristics but there are a number that are not. But even that would have been ok if the story had been interesting. It took forever for me to even like Andrei and then I wouldn’t say he was great. Then Tessa is just an odd character. She is so accepting of things and then questions the littlest things. It didn’t make sense.

The background characters are irritating if you ask me. Jilly is a know it all and it gets to be too much. Bailey is great. I might have enjoyed the story of Bailey and Tristan more than this story.

I usually like Amanda Ashley’s stories but this one just didn’t do it for me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.