Publisher's Description:

When Red falls for the Big Bad Wolf...

The Black Lily resistance needs a larger army if they are to defeat the vampire monarchy. In order to do so, former lieutenant and traitor to the vampire Crown, Nikolai must seek help from the red-hooded temptress he needs to avoid at all costs. The secret he carries could prove dangerous for her if she gets too close...even though keeping her close—very close—is the only thing on his mind.

Sienna will do anything for the Black Lily, and when Nikolai asks for her assistance to gain the trust of the commonwealth, it's the last thing she wants to do. The thought of leaving her woods and her wolves behind is terrifying...not to mention the danger being with Nikolai poses.

My Thoughts:

This paranormal tale of love with the enemy is loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood. Like the first book in this series it is no fairytale but weaves the premise of the afore mentioned story throughout.
This and The Black Lily can easily be read as standalone titles as they are very loosely connected.

Former lieutenant and traitor to the vampire Crown, Nikolai must seek help from the red-hooded temptress Sienna who is an enemy he should be avoiding.

Sienna will do anything for the cause of the Black Lily, but should she trust this man (vampire) who is her enemy?
I gave this book 4 of 5 stars for the storyline and character development. It is a sensual story that rates 3.5 of 5 flames for heat.
I received a complimentary digital copy to read via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

Was wary at first. Didn’t know what to expect but the description sounded interesting so eh give it a shot. I wasn’t disappointed.

this is a fun sexy exciting twist to the idea of red riding hood. And I say red riding hood loosely. Here we have here as the protector of the forest and hartstone with the Hart wolves. Yes the wolves are her friends and extended family. They protect Sienna fiercely and their trust in her is implicit. So when Nicolai comes they are wary. Not because it is him but because of what he is. A vampire. The species that has harmed their kind. For Sienna though they set it aside and give him a chance.

Nicolai is the sexy beast who believes he doesn’t deserve someone like Sienna even though he can’t stop thinking about her. She is all that is good and light in his world. He sets this aside for a mission and to keep her safe. He has come on behalf of the black lily. The group he has set aside his life and changed his world for. A group he believes in and goes against his queen for. He is a fierce warrior of honor and even though he doesn’t believe it he is kind, caring and loving. Especially with Sienna.

Sienna is a fierce loving woman. She gives without expecting anything in return. She also believes in the cause of the Black lily and willing to leave her safety and comfort of the woods to help the cause. What she doesn’t realize is that this journey will change her world. Rock it and tip it upside down.

there is a fierce attraction between her and Nicolai that is felt from the moment he enters her forest and sees her. This attraction has a life of its own. they try to contain it but as they grow closer and learn more of one another it takes over. We see Nicolai treat her with such love and reverence. He is in awe of her beauty and strength as she is of him. Only he doesn’t believe he is good or worth her. But as they go on their mission and danger surrounds them we see them grow closer through the intimacy of talking and learning about one another. When they finally voice their feelings and act on them wowza. The steam factor is through the roof and off the charts. These two are meant to be she calms Nicolai and has him see himself as he is. She understands him and believes in him. Sienna is transforming with her charm and convictions. she is the one who people listen to but it is Nicolai with the butcher Deb that has my heart melt. How he is real and honest with her and how she changes her view of him and lets him know. Lets him hope that maybe others can do that as well and see him as Nicolai and not just a vampire.

But danger follows them and confronts them at each turn. It also almost consumes them. They escape so many times but is it enough. I love their time at Friedrich’s and when we see the queen’s plan and learn from Sienna the truth it is a jaw dropping moment. When Sienna is almost lost Nicolai is lost and realizes he can’t be without her. She is his light and love. His heart and soul. Sienna transforms into a fierce warrior under Nicolai’s love. She is his other half as he is hers. When the true transformation of hers takes place and she becomes the Red Witch of the wood it is something awe inspiring. As she takes her side next to Nicolai and the wolves to fight the Queen it is hopeful and we see love rule and change is possible. Their love is amazing and so is the sacrifice of people to get a peaceful world once again.

A book on love and peace. On acceptance and right and wrong. On finding who you are and being okay with it. Of finding your soul mate and fighting for love. A book with polarizing characters that have you believe in a cause. Of characters like the Hart wolves and Sienna and Nicolai who have you believe in them and their cause but also have you fall in love with them as they fight for what is right and fall in love.

'The Red Lily' by Juliette Cross is book Two in the "Vampire Blood" series. This is the story of Nikolai and Sienna. I have read the previous book (It was also great!!) but you can read this as a standalone if you choose to do so. But I do feel that you would enjoy this book more if you read the previous book. Nikolai and Sienna meet in that book and they both have parts in helping the previous main characters survive.
Nikolai is back and in need of Sienna help with a mission for the Black Lilly cause. Sienna has helped the Black Lilly before and also is a close friend of the Black Lilly. So when Nikolai comes with a letter from her and asking to help him secure information she agrees. Sienna lives in the woods with her wolves and does not interact to much with people because of the label they have given her as a witch. So she does feel somewhat worried about leaving the area but does what she must to help save people from the evil crown. Nikolai has been attracted to Sienna from the first moment he seen her but feels that she is all things good...where he feels tainted. But this journey has open them both up to letting go of their doubts an start to accept what is to become.
This is the second book I have read from Ms. Cross and I have feel in love with her writing! I am hooked on this series also. I just want more books from Ms. Cross ASAP!
Vampire Blood series:
Book 1: The Black Lily
Book 2: The Red Lily
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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4.5*


This book features Sienna and Nikolai from The Black Lily.

Sienna (Red Riding Hood) lives safe and secure in the Silvane forest protected by the Hart Wolves but to help the Black Lily she leaves the safety and comfort of the forest.

Nikolai has been sent to protect Sienna and the instant attraction they both felt is still there and growing the more time they spend together.
Sienna and Nikolai are visiting villages trying to round up volunteers for The Black Lily but Queen Morgrid has given up all pretence of normality and is creating her own evil army and along with the aid of King Dominik she's looking unstoppable.
The sanguine furorem (blood madness) is spreading at an alarming rate and blood is needed to feed all the new vampires.
It's all coming down to a race against time.

This is a fabulous adventure which kept me hooked from the first page to the last and now I can't wait for the next book 'Snow White'

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC.

***5 ‘Show Me Life’ Stars***

I knew I’d be in for one hell of a ride when I started The Red Lily. I expected my heart to start racing with anticipation over what would happen next, but I didn’t expect to get all teary eyed...not once, but TWICE (which wasn’t cool since my makeup was all nice and pretty) but that’s what happened. Ms. Cross pulled out all the stops and then some with this book. It’s got it all: Hot, smexy alpha male vamps, evil batshit crazy vamps, strong willed women and a slew of secondary characters that you want to know more about even if you’ve only met them for a hot second (even the evil ones) and it’s all set in a world that is so vibrant that it’s easy to get lost in for a few hours and never want to leave.

I loved Nikolai and Sienna. Nikolai is all kinds of smexy, charismatic alpha male who can be all kinds of beastly one second and yet unconsciously kind and compassionate the next. He may have turned ‘traitor’, but that was because his strong sense of honor wouldn’t allow him to do any less. Sienna is a strong and independant woman, which is proven by where she lives and the circumstances that got her there as well as her decision to join The Black Lily, but she also has a kind and compassionate heart. What I found amusing about Sienna was how unaware she could be about her effect on people and the little, or sometimes big things, that made her stand out.

I loved how their journey to their HEA unfolded..well most of it. While the sexual tension between them was high, the angst was minimal. Both had their misgivings about being together, but it was more about how they perceived themselves and what they believed the future held for them, not how they viewed each other. They fun, flirty and the mutual respect they had for the other made it easy to see that they could have a future together. While most of the drama going on was due to their mission, they had their bumps in the road. One had me giving the author the evil eye, but I loved how it all worked out in the end.

I’m really enjoying how the whole working at overthrowing the evil crazy bitch queen story arc is unfolding and the pacing of it all as well as getting glimpses of who may or may not be getting a book of their own in the future. Friedrich I already liked after meeting him in The Black Lily, but now I want to dig around in his head a little more. I loved the hart wolves and I hope we see more of them as the series progresses. But the two that stand out the most are Riker and Dane. I had a bit of a gut reaction to Riker and I’m happy what I thought didn’t happen, and Dane, well, you’ll have to meet him to find out. So, bring on the next book!

I gave it 3.5 stars

I really enjoyed Arabelle and Marius' story in THE BLACK LILY and I also really enjoyed meeting Nikolai and Sienna along the way. I didn't find THE RED LILY as exciting as book one, but the story was still enjoyable and I have no doubt that the people and events that took place will show up in later installments of the Vampire Blood series.

I'm finding myself having a hard time reviewing THE RED LILY. I enjoyed the story, but I feel like it was missing something and I can't quite put my finger on what it was. On top of that, I know that THE RED LILY is Sienna and Nikolai's book, but I was really looking forward to seeing the resistance some more and I don't feel like it really did the job of furthering that part of the storyline even though that was the point of the couple working together. They did get some things done, but it didn't feel to me like enough was done.

The romance between Nikolai and Sienna wasn't as tumultuous as Arabelle and Marius, but they did have passion. The sexy scenes when they happened were hot and Arabelle really surprised me during those moments.

The Hart wolves were something that really interested me in THE BLACK LILY and they are explored a lot more in book two. I would have never guessed what they really were or that they were a part of the things that were revealed to us. I am excited to learn more about them in future books. In fact, I'm hoping they get a book all to themselves. I have no doubt that their connection to Arabelle will have them in future fights as allies of the resistance. Come on THE WHITE LILY, make my hopes a reality.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Juliette Cross has delivered another vampiric retelling of a favorite fairytale with a revolutionary twist. I recommend reading this series in order so that you may following the continuing story arc, and get the full fairytale experience.

The first book, The Black Lily, is based on Cinderella, if she were a vampire hunter falling in love with a vampire prince. The tales continue in The Red Lily, which is loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, where our hero and heroine face danger to aid in the revolutionary endeavors of The Black Lily. Those endeavors being freeing humans from vampire enslavement and violence against their person.

Our heroine and Little Red Riding Hood character is Sienna, who fled the life of a lady and an undesirable betrothal to live in the magical and mysterious Silvane Forest with her grandmother. The forest seems to have changed Sienna, though she has yet to unlock the power she sometimes feels coursing through her body. I loved the magicality* of Sienna's character and her relationship with the hart wolves. I could totally see myself going off and living in a small cabin in the woods with only the animals for company, so I particularly liked this aspect of the story. Of course having a handsome and humorous hero invade my bed demesne wouldn't hurt things one bit. I wish we knew just a little more about Sienna's backstory, though Juliette certainly put her through the ringer in the present. I was surprised at the strife Sienna suffered in the course of the story, but it caused me to forge an emotional connection to her character. These aspects of the story reminded me of the darker aspects of the fairytales that often didn't make it into the watered-down children's stories.

On this journey with Sienna, we have Nikkolai, former lieutenant of the Crown's Royal Legionnaires, and best friend to Prince Marius. Nikkolai chose to accompany his prince in exile as they build the Black Lily's army to fight Queen Morgrid and her sanguine furorem. Though this particular task, squiring a red-haired temptress across the kingdom, is certainly no hardship to our handsome hero. In fact, he may just have planned the whole thing! Nikkolai was an awesome hero, one who I would call attractively arrogant. Yes, he is confident... but in a fun-loving and flirty way.

"The things I want to do to you, sweetheart. They are not good. But they would feel... delicious."

The relationship between these two was anticipatorily* steamy. We had Nikkolai making statements like the above, telling Sienna from the beginning that the writing was on the wall as to where they would end up (between the sheets). It added delicious tension and that anticipatory build up that I love to see in romance. When push came to shove, Nikkolai definitely delivered on the promise of his words and steamed up my kindle quite a bit. Let me tell ya, I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers.

We didn't see a ton of revolutionary activity in this installment. Instead, we have Sienna and Nikkolai recruiting for the cause. Our plot conflict comes into play with the Legionnaires trying to stop them along the way, and doing so in a brutal fashion. I thought there as a good balance of romance with other aspects of the story, including the plot conflict and foretelling for the next installment of the series. I am looking forward to what happens in The White Lily, which I suspect will feature Mina as a heroine.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Entangled.

*Yeah, I probably made up those words.

Remember a few years ago and that angst-ridden vampire who everyone fell in love with? Well forget him, because now there's Nikolai.

“I was fearless when it was only my life at stake. Now I have so much more to lose.”

Continuing the story from where The Black Lily left off, Juliette Cross takes her reader on a magical, heart-stopping and passionate rollercoaster ride as Nikolai and lady of the forest, Sienna begin their crusade to rally the locals in preparation for the stand against Queen Morgrid.

"She was sheltered and protected within the wood. But if she ever dared to stray too far, danger and death would surely follow."

From the moment I picked up the The Red Lily it consumed me, transporting me into Sienna and Nikolai's world. There's so much more to both their characters than you would imagine and, with them driving the storyline forward throughout, there is never a dull moment to be had: you experience every emotion they feel.

"Never fall for a vampire, dear one. There can be no future with the cursed."

There's no question of not falling for this vampire and I fell head-over-heels completely and unashamedly in love with Nikolai—if ever there were an example of the undead having a heart, he is it. And Sienna is the type of heroine who I develop a lady-crush over because whilst she may live alone in the depths of the forest with the wolves as her companions, she's no shy wallflower.

"It would cut me too deep if anything should happen to you."

This story unfolds beautifully and brings every element that makes for the perfect read, leaving you cheering Sienna and Nikolai on, fanning yourself at the electric chemistry zipping between them, cherishing the tender moments and holding your breath as the story travels an unexpected path. And whilst there's no cliffhanger, there's just enough left open to carry us into the next book which I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on. The Vampire Blood series is shaping up to be a real keeper.

Fairytale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with Vampires. Um....yes please.

Little Red Riding Hood isn’t exactly my favorite fairytale but I seem to really enjoy re-tellings of it and Juliette Cross’s interpretation is no different.

Sienna lived in the woods with her grandmother for years. She has heard all about the temptations that they can offer a young woman. Sienna never dreamed that she would ever be interested in a vampire but that all changed when Nicolai and his prince joined the Black Lily and came into her life.

I love Nicolai. I’m not sure if he is intended to be the woodsman in this or the big bad wolf but he does have a silver tongue and says some the best things to Sienna.
“None of them hold a candle to you,” he said abruptly. “Your alabaster skin glows and looks so soft, it begs to be touched. Your auburn hair, even coiffed in a simple braid, is fine as silk. Your carriage when you walk, when you sit so still as you are now, denotes a genteel lady of the highest ranking. And your eyes”— he shook his head, a smile quirking one side of his mouth—“ you could slay many a man with one come-hither look.”
Catching her breath after such a speech, she said, “I would never tempt a man unwittingly.”
“Sweetheart, you could tempt the devil to his death if you so choose. I thought you would do so to me last night.”

As they travel the land to try and recruit more people into the revolution they become better acquainted and fall into more and more danger. The queen in onto them and sending some of her special vampires after the duo trying to stop them from picking up anymore supporters. Man I hate the evil queen who seems to view humans as disposable and just cattle to be slaughtered. She and her son do some extremely despicable things in this installment and I can’t wait for them to get what is coming to them. I’m really hoping that Sienna will be able to be a powerful player with the gifts that have been bestowed to her in this book, especially after the price she had to pay to get them. But I’m glad that she has found a powerful protector along the way.
He was dangerous on any other day. But today, he was utterly lethal. He stood over Sienna like a dragon over his most precious treasure, daring any man to come close where he could devour them.

Like always Juliette Cross has some very unique interpretations of the lore normally surrounding fairytales and she gives us a good story. I enjoyed my time with Sienna and Nicolai and at the same time found myself really excited for some of the upcoming stories that seem to be in the works for this series. Specifically one that seems set up for a sleeping beauty retelling.
“The Royal Legionnaires locked Mina in her tower and starved her until she collapsed. Under the queen’s orders, they now feed her one drop of blood per week. Enough to keep her alive, but also trapped in the darkness of a hungry sleep.”

I’m very excited to see who will be the one to try and wake the sleeping princess.

I’m not really into vampires but I loved that this book also incorporated the Heartwolves more, their place in the forest and why they choose to protect Sienna. Their history was incredibly interesting and I wonder if they will get to play a bigger role in the revolution later as well.

Overall this is a really solid and interesting retelling with some steaminess added in. I like that most of Juliette’s works are 200-250 pages which is a perfect size read when you just want something a little sexy and fun.

Thank you to the Author Juliette Cross for the ARC in exchange for review.

This is the second book in this romance series that mixes up fantasy with a decided paranormal edge but what makes it stand out is the way the author weaves fairy tales into it. The first book The Black Lily took inspiration from the classic Cinderella story whereas this instalment seems to channel Little Red Riding Hood! Except our hooded beauty is no child but a woman who fully understands the evil that men can do and Sienna is determined to help the resistance known as The Black Lily to take down the cruel Vampire queen and her blood mad army once and for all.
Revolution of any kind is never easy and it's no different here. Sienna is charged with rallying as many villagers as she can but obviously will need a little help. Well step forward Nikolai, he may be a Vampire but he doesn't want to see his fellow countrymen crushed beneath the despotic rule of Queen Morgrid and is determined to aid his friend Prince Marius . Mind you it's no hardship being around the fiery Sienna as she's a woman he would definitely like to get his hands on and his fangs in! Their journey is a perilous one as you can never be sure if they are about to be betrayed but it will take them to the depths of despair as they face challenges that no one could have seen coming.
Well this couple practically combust on the pages and I'm surprised my kindle didn't have steam coming out of it! Yes this one is aimed firmly at older readers although for my personal taste perhaps just too many intimate scenes. However it's the story that captured my interest and we get to meet new characters here who surely must play a part as this series progresses. From a rather peculiar servant to the reason why Sienna reminds me of Red Riding Hood and no spoilers but it's not her cloak! Yes the author clearly has plans but a word of warning as she is not afraid to test her characters and at times this book was harrowing to read. Not for the faint of heart but if you want passionate romance with heart stopping action then this series is a must read.
This voluntary review is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and opinions are I believe honest and fair

You know how sometimes the second book in the series just doesn’t go where you thought it would when you finished the first one? That’s not always a bad thing – there’s a reason I don’t write fiction. But I think that’s what happened to me with The Red Lily.

We met Sienna, known for her red cloak, in book one of the series. She leaves behind her forest and her wolves for most of book two so I felt like the fairy tale references were left as well. Instead the story feels like a pretty straightforward vampire romance. It’s not even an enemies to lovers story like The Black Lily was. Sienna and Nikolai are hot for each other from the beginning. There’s no “will they or won’t they,” just “when will they find the time while running for their lives.” Cross makes up for that by literally torturing them – it goes pretty dark.

I did get to learn more about the Hart wolves, which was my biggest unanswered question, though that also did not quite go how I expected. And some of the revelations about Nikolai’s past might be relevant to the future of their rebellion. But all of the new world building came at the end of the book.

Just to be clear, I enjoyed The Red Lily. I liked both Sienna and Nikolai going in and that didn’t change. I just didn’t feel like this book advanced the series story line much. I’m still hopeful about the rest of the series though. There are three different characters who I could see as heroes of upcoming books. And I’m looking forward to getting to know more of the supporting characters. Not to mention the inevitable showdown with the Big Bad.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, dark fairytale retellings, or vampires give the Vampire Blood series a try. (It was previously called Tales of the Black Lily, which I liked better.) Maybe just don’t go on with as many expectations as I did.

5 - Never fall for a vampire... There can be no future with the cursed. Stars!

The second book in Juliette Cross’s Vampire Blood series; The Red Lily picks up pretty much where its predecessor The Black Lily left off, only this is Sienna and Nikolai’s story.

IMAGE.

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This book was like an all-you-can-read emotional buffet. No lie, I went from happiness to heart-break, excitement to dread, laughing to crying. It’s sexy, it’s sensual, dark and brutal and all the feels in-between, Juliette literally takes you on a journey with Sienna and Nikolai, and you cannot help but feel the whole gamut of emotions with them.

She was sheltered and protected within the wood. But if she ever dared to stray too far, danger and death would surely follow…

I don’t want to say too much about the plot twists and turns in this one, it’s an high-speed adventure and you will be kept on your toes the whole time. The journey that Nikolai and Sienna take through the Commonwealth to try and drum up recruits and support for The Black Lily and the army she is building, includes stops in many towns that contain Queen Morgrid’s spies, so the risk of discovery for them both is high. I was literally clenching my Kindle and on the edge of my seat with each new village they visited waiting to see if they were going to be betrayed or not, there were times I was worried my death-grip would crack the screen.

"Revolutions aren’t won without danger. And death. We are all risking our lives."

The depth of the feeling and the relationship between Nikolai and Sienna also grows as their travelling takes them further from Sienna’s home in The Silvane Forest and her beloved Hart Wolves. And although innocent Sienna isn’t afraid to ask Nikolai for what she wants.

"When I do take you... there will be no question in that brilliant brain of yours that you... belong to me."

I loved Nikolai, an honorable Vampire dealing with his own personal demons, he doesn’t believe he is good enough for Sienna, and I loved reading the dual POV because it gave you the emotions and feelings building between them from both perspectives.

Her alluring scent had gotten under his skin, and he wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d gotten under hers…

This is a couple that go through the ringer, and the author is certainly not afraid to explore the darker side of battle with some of the things that happen to them in the telling of the story. But I loved each and every second of it, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next books release later this year.

The were a long way off from victory.

Some questions are answered in The Red Lily but a lot more are raised as well, we are introduced to further secondary characters, and the plot literally thickens with everything that is and has happened, I predict great things from the rest of the books in this series, and if the author carries on producing stories of the first twos caliber, this is going to be one hell of an unforgettable reading adventure.

"We will win this war."

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.

The Red Lily by Juliette Cross is the 2nd book in her Vampire Blood series. I loved the first book in this series, and I must say that this was equally as good or even better. Juliette Cross once again wows us with another fantastic story; which is no surprise, as she has wowed us in each and everyone one of her series.
In The Red Lily, Sienna and Nikolai, are our heroes, whom we met in The Black Lily, and I could not wait for their story. In The Black Lily, the themed fairy tale background was Cinderella; in The Red Lilly it is Red Riding Hood and in the next book, The White Lilly, it will be Snow White.

Sienna lives in the Silvane Forest, protected by hart wolves, whom she loves with all her heart. Many think of Sienna as the Red Witch, but she insists she is not a witch. When she knows she must leave her beloved enchanted forest to visit other towns to alert them of the terrible Queen Morgrid, who has her blood lust vampire army killing locals. Sienna must make the local folks leave and join Arrabelle (the Black Lily) & Prince Marius, who are training and building their own army to fight the Queen. To protect Sienna, Nikolai will arrive in the forest, and be her guide and protector during their journey. Both Nikolai and Sienna have been having their own sexual dreams since they met previously during the saving of Arrabelle. The chemistry between them was sizzling hot, and they were so awesome together. I loved them both. I also loved Dutchess and her hart wolves.

When they embark on their journey, the danger will escalate leaving us holding our breath so many times, with Nikolai managing to save Sienna. But the worse is yet to come that will bring them both close to the end. We learn the depths that the evil Queen Morgrid will go to and her evil vampire army. Just when you think it’s hopeless, a tiny shiver of light will open the way for hope.

Nikolai becomes the Big Bad Wolf as he unleashes his monster to find a way to save Sienna, and to destroy all those despicable enemies. Sienna will need to let out her unknown magic to help save them all.
This was a heart stopping last half of the book, that kept you reading until you reached the end. The Red Lily was an emotional, heart wrenching, intense, exciting, suspenseful and action-packed thriller. The romance between Sienna and Nikolai was beautiful and Cross manages to make their scenes sexy & hot has hell, and at the same time keeping the sensational story in the forefront.

As I have said before, if you have not read Juliette Cross, you are seriously missing a fantastic author. She always captivates us with great stories, wonderful couples, great secondary characters and a romance that is sizzling. You need to read this series, and start with The Black Lily

The Red Lily is the much anticipated follow-up novel in Juliette Cross’s Vampire Blood series. It’s chalk full of suspense and treachery, danger and betrayal, all mingled with hope and romance. I can’t wait for the next book!

The battle of the Black Lily continues as the tyrannical vampire monarchy is high on bloodlust and disorder. The cause needs more recruits, and who better to call upon then the rumored Red Witch who lives deep in the Silvane Forest? Sienna is more than willing to journey from town to town to make this happen, but she’s not going it alone. The devastatingly handsome former lieutenant and golden-haired vampire, Nikolai, is going with her.

And darn, does he call to something within her.

I was breathless throughout this whole book! The action is heating up, tensions are rising, and Sienna and Nikolai have little time if they want to save lives. Sienna is such a sweetheart, but she has a spine of steel. I really enjoyed the mystery that surrounds her. She’s protected by hart wolves—hardcore enemies of vampires—while surrounded by this hint of magic. It’s all very Little Red Riding Hood with Nikolai as her wolf. I love the twist on a good old fairytale, and Juliette Cross brings it here.

Nikolai completely blindsided me! I remember him being very reserved or standoffish in the first novel, so when he whips out the suave, charming rogue of his personality? It’s swoon worthy! We get the slightly possessive/protective part of his vampire (predator) nature—that edge, that danger I just love—but he can also be playful and oh, so sexy. He takes his role as Sienna’s protector and compatriot very seriously, but he’s also sidetracked by this intense attraction he has to Sienna. Her blood is calling to him too, but he has a secret past that rears its head.

Then there’s the enemy which was so evil…I wanted to punch out some throats!

Which all brings me to one last thought: Was the first book this sexy? Because The Red Lily just took the heat and intimacy to a whole ‘nother level. Hot damn! I always look forward to the alpha vampire part, and Juliette Cross does not disappoint. It’s smokin’, and Sienna definitely has her hands full.

The Vampire Blood series is part fairytale, part Robin Hood-esque, part smexy fun. It’s all this and more that make this series a must-read. It’ll keep you on your toes and leave you breathless for more.

5 stars!

This is hard for me; I'm a big fan of Ms Cross from her other works - this series is just not on par. I purchased the Black Lily and was prepared to love it... but it was just so flat! The characters were cardboardy. The dialogue was trite. The story dragged. I didn't actually *like* any of them, and finished the book only because I'd paid money for it. I thought that maybe with all the introductions and world-building having been started already, the Red Lily might be a bit faster and more interesting. Sadly, no. I get the old-timey formal thing she's going for, but its just stiff and cold. The book was totally unemotional and I again found myself just wanting it to be over. I didn't actually care for either of these lovers either. I was mildly interested in the wolves and their transformation near the end, but I can't say I'd pick up the next in the series to follow them. Maybe remaking an old fairy tale is a bad idea - we already know the principle, so its very predictable. Sorry. Just not of the same calibre as her other stories :(

Loved this story, I felt like a voyeur on a really long sexy date. Sienna took a while to grow on me, but Nikolai just love. The story was written perfectly and as it progressed I found myself wanting more. Then bam, Mrs. Cross gave more and I read through the last 25% at breakneck speed. Now I'm left waiting for more until the next book.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to the author as well as Entangled Publishing, LLC for the chance to read and review.

I have to give Juliette Cross credit here. Vampires have been done to death but here with the novels taking place in a sort of way that involves fairy tale retellings is genius. I loved that sort of element and she does it effortlessly. Sienna and Nikolai are a pair together but what I really enjoyed is that Sienna is no nonsense and isn't exactly "helpless" in terms of a heroine. I'm looking forward to more work from Cross and seeing where she takes this series.

Juliette Cross is quickly becoming one of the premier names in the paranormal/fantasy romance genre. Her books deliver a mega punch of action, adventure, and heart pounding romantic tensions that make her books simply un-put-downable.

The Red Lily is no exception. Sienna is a warrior in red who has been tucked away in her mystical forest. She has been called to duty by the Black Lily and needs a bodyguard— one all too willing to provide his services. Nikolai, a former Lieutenant of the vampire monarchy, is a wanted man, yet he’ll risk it all to keep the lovely Sienna safe.

““I’d rather take you away to some safe place and hide from the world so there is no one but you and me. I’d rather let the world bleed than put you in danger’s path one more day.””

Sienna and Nikolai create a calm in the storm for one another, and the way Cross weaves her words within this story is breathtaking. She makes this another stepping stone in her quest for storytelling perfection.

“The wind gusted through the trees. The leaves rustled, and a layer of snow drifted in a swirl across the road, sparkling like faerie dust. The night was silent and lovely. The world seemed at peace. But Sienna felt the coming storm, whirling in her breast and building for the dark days ahead. For now, she would try to savor this time with Nikolai. Heaven only knew what fate had in store for them around the bend.”

So, come. Join the magical journey of the Vampire Blood series. Revel in the feel of a magical world with a nod to the fairytales of old and immerse yourself in its wonder. You’ll thank me.

5 Stars
Tanja

“Be true to who you are and who you are meant to be.”

The Red Lily is the second installment in Juliette Cross, Tales of the Black Lily.

I had goosebumps while reading and am in awe. The first book was a creative marvel and then comes The Red Lily. Sienna and Nikolai will having you falling in love all over again.

I loved both Sienna and Nikolai. These two have thought of nothing but each other, though they don’t know it, not until they come together for the cause of The Black Lily. The chemistry is strong and they can’t fight their feelings for long even with danger around every turn.

The Red Lily builds you up, pulls you in and then, hits you with heart stopping events. Just when you think you have your emotions under control and nothing more can surprise you, BAM the author hits you again. This book will not let you put it down. The love story is beautiful, the authors storytelling is skillful, the pictures described where vivid, and the emotions just come off the pages.

I was taken on an action-packed, emotional journey, with some gut wrenching moments that had me in tears, along with some sweet and heartfelt moments, and several surprises along the way… Add it all up and you have a mind-blowing, unforgettable, and extraordinary romantic adventure.

Don’t wait to pick up this amazing series. Book one was the retelling of Cinderella and this one was the retelling of Red Riding Hood. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Rated: 5 Stars

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

“Be true to who you are and who you are meant to be.”

The Red Lily is book two in the series, Tales of the Black Lily by Juliette Cross. Have you ever experienced that moment in time when you read the final word in a book and you just sit there, stunned, not knowing what to think or do after what you just read? Well, that happened! This book…if you thought you loved the first book in this series, just wait until this one, until you get to know Sienna and Nikolai, and fall in love all over again.

Sienna lives in the Silvane Forest guarded by the hart wolves who are also her friends and companions. As much as she loves the solitude of the forest, ever since she met Arabelle and Marius, she is committed to the cause of The Black Lily. To do all she can to help to free the peasants from the oppression of Queen Morgrid. Her task is to travel to several cities to try to rally recruits to help in the fight. To do this she will need to leave her beloved forest. She will also need a guardian. Who better to volunteer for this position than Nicolai, the former Lieutenant for the queens army, now active fighter for the Black Lily alongside his friend, Prince Marius. The same Nicolai that has filled her dreams every night since she first laid eyes on him.

Nikolai didn’t hesitate a moment to volunteer to escort the beautiful Sienna on her journey. He would allow no other to be so close to her. He has thought of nothing else since he first met her, the woman in the red cape with the fiery red hair.

“Was it his infatuation with this woman that colored his senses, washing him with desire and electric power? Or was it the woman herself who lit him on fire?”

“This woman was certainly a witch, for she beguiled him every step of the way.”

The chemistry is so strong between these two. But Nikolai doesn’t feel he deserves such a pure and beautiful sole. He is a monster, a monster with a dark past that he keeps hidden. A dark secret that surely if Sienna knew, she would cower and run from him as she should. But even with that, they can’t fight their feelings for very long before they give in to the pull that binds them together.

“Is this…feeling because you’ve tasted my blood?”
“No, sweetheart. It is not. This is pure, burning desire.”

Danger lurks as their journey progresses and evil finds them. Nikolai will do anything to keep Sienna, the woman he knows now that he loves, safe. He tries to convince her to abort the remainder of the trip but she is committed to seeing this through. There is more to Sienna than even she realizes. A spark of magic deep within her, a spark only she can unleash once she learns not to fear it.

This is one of those books that build slowly, pulling you in deeper and deeper and then, WHAM, the author hits you with a heart stopping turn of events. Then, just when you think your heart rate has recovered, she hits you again! Believe me when I say that this book won’t let you out of it’s clutches until the very final page. The love story between Nikolai and Sienna is so beautiful. I couldn’t stop thinking about them throughout the time I was reading this book. But there is also so much more going on. We meet new characters, and find out so much more about the atrocities and motives behind the actions of the evil Queen Morgrid. There was one particular scene that was just devastating it was so horrible.

Juliette Cross’s storytelling was truly masterful throughout this book. Her descriptions painted vivid pictures in my mind that will remain for a very long time. This series has captivated me and I am so thankful I am given the opportunity to share my feelings with you. I truly hope that if you haven’t started book one yet, that you do now, so you will be ready when this one is released. I am sure you will fall in love just as I have.

Book one, The Black Lily, was a Cinderella retelling. This one is a Red Riding Hood retelling. I am told that book three, The White Lily, will be a Snow White retelling. Don’t wait, and get started now. This series is amazing.

“She wasn’t simply any woman. She was Sienna.”