ARC given by Netgalley/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Erickson is one author that is easily becoming one of my must read authors. I have yet to be disappointed by anything of hers that I read so far! When I was approved for this ARC, you can bet I about jumped up and down. I tried to put off reading it, because if I read it ASAP, it would be that much longer of a wait for the next book and I wouldn't want it over, but well...I am obviously not the most patient person ever.

When I found out it would be Vampires, which is another fave of mine to read, I knew she'd have me hook, line and sinker. And she did. The premise though...it is what gives this genre a HUGE breath of fresh air that it really needed, and it is one that kept me turning pages as fast as I could. And once I reached the last page, I wanted....no, I really, really needed more. I didn't want it to be over with. I think it is safe to say that she left me with a humongous reading hangover, and one I am still trying to get out of.

The world building alone was worth it, the characters even more. They were really likeable, and even with it centering around vampires, she made them believable. Their personalities, the funny, smartass comments, just everything. She made you feel as if you knew these characters as if they were face to face with you.

I need the next book in my hands, like yesterday.

I definitely think that if you love the paranormal genre, you should most certainly give this one a read. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I love it when I discover an author who can satisfy my different cravings. Megan Erickson writes, contemporary romance, M/M, as well as PNR and after sampling a little of each I can safely say I’m impressed with her ability to switch genres whilst delivering solid world building and dependable characters.

Something to know about me, Fantasy is my first love. I came to romance books super late but I remember loving the light romantic aspects in my fantasy reads back then.

Now with PNR, both my favorites genre are colliding to deliver two of my favorite things. A way to escape reality through imaginary worlds combined to the seductive and titillating side of romance.

The blurb of Blood Guard is pretty self explanatory, I didn’t hesitate one second after reading it, it screamed three things at me : alpha male, fiery heroine and adventure. I had to read it. Now.

With Blood Guard, Megan Erickson certainly delivered beyond my expectations.

First with her compelling and clever world building, she managed to efficiently set out a complete universe without drowning the rest of the story. I liked learning about the different vampire species and customs through Tendra and Athan discussion. It wasn’t as deep and extended as say—a Tolkien novel— but just enough to establish the basics without smothering the reader with pages of descriptions. The advantage was to learn about the world and follow the events unfold at the same time.

Second I knew she could write sexy. And boy did she prove me again that she was devilishly skilled to set the pages ablaze! I mean a book with vampires, I was expecting some level of hedonism and iniquity, right? Well, safe is to say, Megan Erickson knows quite a few things in the debauchery department. And she gave just enough to make this book sexy, dirty without feeling depraved. Or maybe just a tiny bit 😉

Third, I love a great alpha male, especially in paranormal romance I like a man that takes charge, but what I loved even more here—against all odds— was how strong, capable and fierce the heroine, Tendra, was!!! Such a smart ass young woman! I loved how rather than feeling sorry for herself she faced her troubles and big bad vampires with a heavy dose of sarcasm and derision. It gave the whole story a refreshing and fun side.

I need to point out how easy it was to connect with the heroine. I’m not a huge fan of the 1st person POV but here it worked like a charm. The characterization was on point, and I was especially pleased to meet a vampire in touch with his feelings, showing more humanity than I thought was possible. It gave another layer to their forbidden affair and I loved the heartache behind it! Just the right dose of angst!

And last, by successfully mixing romance, heartache, humor and action, Megan Erickson hooked me from page one, with Blood Guard she put her own spin on Vampires and gave life to interesting and complex characters, opposing snark and bite. Jut amazing all around!

My thirst for hot vampires was not only quenched but it turned me into an addict! I need more. It was extremely entertaining and a perfect start to a new series. I can’t wait for the next book, Blood Veil, which should release early 2018.

In a word already far too dark and dangerous, Tendra has kept to the shadows. Raised by a single mother and never in one place for two long, she's always been vaguely aware that she's different. Following the death of her mother she carries on with her job as a waitress and life of solitude.

"I spent the rest of my time watching cult classic movies and lurking in their online fandoms."

Enter Athan, a vampire and her sworn Blood Guard. You see, Tendra really isn't your average human. As she sets off with him into the world of vampires and a coming war, drama unfolds. Heading for the compound outside her home of Mission City and towards her future husband, the king, can't just be simple.

"One vampire, no matter how powerful, and a lone human weren't a match for an army of assassins and enemy vampires."

Simple, short and lacking a great deal of world building is how I'd describe this. It wasn't awful but I won't be eagerly counting the days until the next one. This is the sort of book you snag for a long plane ride and don't get particularly upset when it disappears.

Two stars.

I love all of the things Megan writes and I love vampires, so this seemed like a sure thing.

I liked Tendra and Athan. She's stubborn and stands up for herself. He's guarded and maybe a bit cocky. Together they bicker and have some decent chemistry. Their relationship is strained for obvious reasons, but it was intriguing to see them work it out. I loved Zeb and Idris and I hope to see more of them in the next book.

Plot wise, it was okay. There were several repetitive words/phrases and several things told over and over again. The first 40% of the book was sort of a info dump sash world building, but none of it felt explained well enough. I finally gave up trying to keep track of the various vampire clans and their members and found it much more enjoyable.

Overall, it was a bit of a rough start for me. I cringed at some of the language used {and the f-bomb is my favorite word} and it took me some time to settle into the story. However, it did pick up and I found I really wanted to know how it ended. I'll definitely be reading the next one.

*Huge thanks to Loveswept for providing the arc free of charge**

Enjoyed this PNR book. Tendra was a strong heroine willing to give up everything to save the human race. It was a little slow but there was world building that needed to be done. It kept my interest. Would read the next one

Review by Elizabeth for Love Romance Books

The author is looking for an honest review.

4 stars

I am always looking for a good and I mean really good paranormal, suspense thriller, with the dark romance to boot. I found one that not only I loved the story line I loved the characters as well. It was intense at times. It had it soft moments, but in all it was a total book. What more can you ask for. You will like all the characters in here, even the ones that you need to hate because they tell the story. They tell a story not only of lies and deceit, but also it is possible to love but not without consequences. I keep replaying this book in my head and I just know there is going to be more from these characters you can feel it. It isn't going to be pretty but not to see them again would be a shame.

Tendra has no clue who she really is and what she needs to do. She lives a regular life and just knows it is hard. She has lost her mom and she only really has her best friend and her cat. She goes to work, comes home and does it again. Her friend says she should get out, but she never feels like it. So when she goes to work one day and see this man in the corner watching her, she doesn't know what to do. Athan is the blood guard of his vampire colony. He needs to look over Tendra because she is in danger. Tendra is the only one that can fill a prophecy for these vampires. The only thing is she doesn't know that yet. She doesn't know it, but Athan is there to protect her and make sure she gets to his kingdom unharmed. Only there are others after her that want her dead now. So maybe he doesn't go about it the right way, but he captures her and that is when the fun starts. Tendra has no idea who this guy is or why he has taken her, but she does know he is different. Tendra will learn that there is a lot in this world that she didn't know existed and will have to believe in things only in books. When he shows his fangs well lets just say there is many things she doesn't know. She will have to learn to trust him. He is going to have to let her in. They both have to rely on each other to get where they need to be. The problem is there are so many secrets and lies going around they both won't know who to trust, if anyone. It is a race against time because the other clan wants Tendra dead and Athan's clan needs her alive.

I really enjoyed everyone in this book. I couldn't put the book down. I actually wanted more, but needless to say I finished and I couldn't be happier. The author gave you everything that you needed for a book and more. The story was told extremely well and I can't wait to get more from this author.

I picked up this book as I thought it sounded like it would be interesting not realizing it was told from the 1st person POV (something I tend to veer away from). the majority of the book is from the heroine's POV though the hero's POV does have some significant time as well. after an initially slow start, I was pleased that I had the opportunity to read Blood Guard and its interesting and touching love story. While the Tendra seems to accept the circumstances and what she's told is her new situation a little quickly, we still get to see her going through process of working through some of her fears and anger at what she's suddenly thrown into as she attempts to readjust to all this new info, I appreciated how she would work through her fears/sadness to find her strength & spunk and fight to make the best of it (optimistic but not overly so). meanwhile we get to Anthan discover a new side to himself as he comes to care & respect Tendra and we feel his inner turmoil between those feelings, his love for his brother & clan, his sense of duty & loyalty as well as fears for the future.

for the most part, "Blood Guard" was good. A few things needed tweaking but didn't take away from the story.

This is a good read and a promising start to a new series.
I’m just not sure that this series is for me.
I always hope that I will find a vampire series that I will love. I’m still working on that one.
The story flows well and there are exciting elements to the stories. The world building takes a while as there are three different vampire clans and at times especially when they were fighting I got confused. But with vampires there always seems to be a prophecy involved so that kind gets old.
As to the characters. Tendra is a strong heroine and she goes with the flow of the situation she is in and that she is vital to the Clan yet she fell in my estimation. She did something really quite idiotic. A TSTL moment.
Athan is a fantastic Hero, overprotective and gets attached to Tendra. They develop something that wasn’t meant to be. And go against tradition. I didn’t see that twist coming but it did add to the plot of the story.

This is my first vampire book in a while and my first M/F pairing in about as long. Some of the last M/F books I read were Megan Erickson books, so I am familiar with her style. She has been stepping out of her zone recently with her other paranormal offering (werewolf and werewolf zombies anyone?), so I was excited to read this book.
This story has an interesting take on the vampire king/queen fated pairing story line. I was not expecting the twist, which made me like the book even more. I will say, the action was slow to come. The first half of the book was world building, so there were a lot of introductions and dialogue (don't get me wrong, I adore dialogue). After the halfway point the book really picked up and we got more action.
The strong female lead is where Megan Erickson excels. Ten is intelligent and honest, and she tries her very best to keep a level head as much as possible. Maybe too level? But it helps keep the storyline moving instead of stalling for hysterics. She takes the time she needs when she needs it and isn't shy about standing up for herself.
Athan is cold at first, but he warms up real quick to Tendra. It may be their forced proximity, but their relationship progresses at lightning speed considering they are not fated in the "traditional" sense. They do have chemistry and Athan shows so much care for Tendra right from the very first. I mean, when he found out Brex had hitched a ride he could have kicked him out, but he kept the cat around.
There is no miscommunication, no purposely hurting someone else for page after page or chapter after chapter just to add words or perceived tension. Everything in this book seemed to serve a purpose, either to further the story or to explain this new world to Tendra and the reader.

I think book 2 will be more fast paced (I hope) as there won't be as much in the Q & A department if the book is about who I think it is supposed to be about.
A solid start to the series. I will definitely read the next installment. Recommended!

This definitely was not my favorite book by Megan Erickson. I adore all her other books, so I’m a bit disappointed. Blood Guard was by no means bad. I just can’t help compare it to her other books, which are pretty amazing.

My main issue was that this had the “chosen one” trope. Which, *sigh*. I think most of us can admit this trope needs to go away, or be done in a new and unique way, which it wasn’t here. Also, don’t expect too much world-building, it wasn’t super complex here.

The romance is what saved the story. Tendra is a waitress who one night gets kidnapped and is thrown into this world she had no idea existed, a world where vampires are real. Athan is her new vampire bodyguard. He’s in charge of making sure she gets to his king’s (a.k.a. his brother) place safely. Tendra and Athan’s romance was really adorable and sexy at the same time. They’re on the run throughout the story, being chased by other vampires, near-death experiences, you know. And it was nice seeing their relationship develop throughout everything that was happening.

Like I said, this wasn’t my favorite Megan Erickson book, but it was a fun and quick read. I recommend it to the people who will enjoy a story more focused on the romance than anything else. I do feel like this series has a lot of potential though, so I will definitely check out book 2, which I think comes out soon.

If you’re looking to check out this author, I definitely recommend her other series – Gamers, Cyberlove, Silver Tip Pack, Mechanics of Love – I think those are her better ones.

An interesting read, that had me intrigued as to what is going to happen next ! A little concerned on how easy the MC believed everything she was told and what was happening, sometimes without question !

Overall though a great start with some great characters and action to what should be a fab series looking forward to book 2

3.5 / 4 Stars

Donna
4TLOREADING

I loved this book! A snarky kick-ass bartender, Tendra, has spent most of her life on the move with her mother. When her mom dies, she has to figure out what to do next. Tendra's life takes a wild turn when she meets Athan, the Blood Guard vampire sent to protect her from those who would harm her. Not a shrinking violet, Tendra demands to know what's going on and Athan learns some human women are more complicated than he thought. Great paranormal romance!

When first reading this book, I was a little hesitant. Not because I didn't think it would be good - I knew it would be good, with that cover and that plot summary, it had to be. But I was concerned that I would find the idea of a girl used for her blood to be too distasteful to get past. Megan Erickson did a great job of relieving my fears fairly early on, by making Tendra a spitfire who wouldn't take crap from anyone and Athan a protector who learns to love with human passion and understanding. They became a couple I could enjoy and relate to quickly, making the rest of the book fly by.

Tendra Parrish has been raised constantly on the move, her mother forcing them to move often, never staying in one place for more than five years. Now that her mother is gone, Tendra has finally found a place where she might just begin to make friends and have a life. That is, until Athan barges into her life, suddenly and without remorse. Athan is tasked with bringing her back to his brother, the heir to the Gregorie King. She is the prophesied Sanguivita, the key to defeating their enemy, the Valerian, an evil race of vampires bent on using humans as slaves for their blood. Almost immediately, Tendra takes issue with being used for her blood, and Athan realizes he has a battle on his hands. On two fronts - one, in getting her back to his brother's home in one piece, and two, in keeping her endearing self away from his surprisingly vulnerable heart.

Both Tendra and Athan were perfectly delightful characters! Tendra was not a damsel in distress, even though she was happy to lean on Athan when faced with horrifying things while on their journey to her new home. She had trained in self defense, so she was able to save herself at times, but she also knew when she was in over her head. I appreciated that she didn't have any TSTL (too stupid to live) moments, when she definitely could have, if her character were written by another author. Thankfully, Megan Erickson took pity on her readers, and created a heroine that was a lovely blend of kickass and vulnerable. My favorite!

There is definitely going to be a second book, which I am ecstatic to read! This one will focus on Athan's brother, Idris. As hunky as his brother, but with a warrior's mind, I am eager to become better acquainted with him!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book which means I will not be able to review it. I truly appreciate the opportunity and apologize for the inconvenience the lack of review may cause you.

This was a quick read that had a twist at the end. I liked the characters and many of the secondary characters seem to have a interesting story themselves. Tendra was a strong female character and when she learned of her destiny was rational about it. She seemed smart although she did make some bad decisions. Athan was swoon worthy and he was a leader that wasn't overbearing. Definitely picking up the next in this series. I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed how layered the MCs were. Kendra was pretty kickass, but the best parts were when she was hamstrung by terror but managed to take that first step out of her paralysis to help herself. Athen was the alpha type of hero but there was a softness to his character that isn't the norm in an apex predator stereotype.

This is an insta-love kind of romance. It can be done well, but I always struggle to understand <i>why</i> it's happening so quickly. I had to hold on to my suspension of disbelief a little tight to get over it but, still, I'm still interested in seeing what happens next.

Have you noticed how many romances start with the hero kidnapping the heroine? What's up with that? It's not my favorite trope, though not a deal breaker necessarily. And in this case she doesn't stay kidnapped for long. Once Tendra learns about the prophesy and her family connection to the vampire clan, she goes along with Athan's plan.

I love a road trip story, which is essentially what Blood Guard is, with Athan and Tendra travelling across the city of Mission and through underground passages to get to the clan stronghold while avoiding rival vampire clans and hired assassins. How they manage to take a week to get across New Jersey I have no idea, but I enjoyed the journey.

I liked Tendra (except for her name, which bugs me) and the fact that she could hold her own in a fight with a vampire. But I wanted to learn more about her ancestors and their connection to the vampires and the prophesy. There's a scene where Tendra learns about her many-great grandmother's journal and I would have liked to see her read it. I also want more of Athan's family history, though I can't get too specific without spoilers.

Megan Erickson's vampire mythos is unusual, though there's little I haven't seen before. The vampires are born as humans or dhampirs and can choose to be changed when they reach adulthood. That part, as well as the supernatural politics - one side that wants to remain hidden and one that wants to subjugate humans - remind me of the Last True Vampire series. What's a little different is the way the vampires feed by anesthetizing the humans with a gland in their wrists.

This is my first book by Erickson, who I'm more familiar with as a contemporary romance author. While it didn't blow me away, I'm interested enough to read the next Mission book and I may even check out her shifter series.

3.5 stars

This book has completely changed my view on vampire books. The interactions and the new ideas that have been formed about their way of life and culture and along with how they function are incredible. A fresh look on an old idea. The writing is fast paced and the plot had enough twists to keep me guessing even when I thought I had the ending figured out there was still a twist I hadn't seen coming.
The characters were well written and their relationships evolved in a way that made you want to relate to them.
The descriptions of the places that they travelled were excellent and made u feel like you could see what was happening around you.
I am waiting in anticipation for the next book now!

I've always loved vampire books, but I haven't started a new vampire series in a very long time. I'm so glad one of my favorite authors decided to write a vampire series, because it's exactly what I've been missing! I loved every minute of it.

Tendra waits tables at a seedy bar near her apartment in Mission City. Her mom, her only family, died about a month before, and she hasn't been handling it well. They were always moving around when she was growing up, and so she never made close friends, or any other connections, along the way. But, they had been in Mission City for 5 years, the longest she'd ever been anywhere, so she finally had a good friend, Ruby, and a job she could count on to pay the bills. But, now that her mother is gone, she's been waiting for a sign that she should leave town and not look back. All she had in the world were a few possessions and her cat, Brex. It would be so easy to just pick up and go. Too bad she didn't do it when she had the chance.

Athan is the younger son of the king of his clan, the Gregorie. He's also a vampire with a duty he's known about all his life: find the Sanguivita, the female human meant to strengthen their clan, through her blood, and her bond with his brother, the future king. He is to find her and deliver her safely to his brother Idris, to enact the prophecy that's been ten generations in the making. He had never planned on his reaction to Tendra, the woman, rather than the Sanguivita, the blood vessel he's meant to guard with his life. He had no idea he'd fall for his brother's intended. He's always been about honor, and duty, and he doesn't know what will happen if he lets any of that slip.

Athan and Ten's chemistry was HUGE right from the start. Even with her initial fear, her snark and sarcasm continually show up, and Athan isn't sure what to make of her. And he really isn't sure what to do with her cat. He's not been around humans much, other than for feeding. Since he's a royal, he wasn't raised like other vampires, who mesh in the human world quite readily. So, he has no real expectations, and even still she blows them out of the water. He's immensely drawn to her and it scares him. And vice versa. They have a very dangerous road ahead of them, and they have to stick together. But, they also need to remain separate in their hearts, to protect the prophecy at all costs.

I enjoyed many of the side characters we met, and the villains were super scary and kept me on the edge of my seat. There was a new problem around every corner, and it was never what I expected. It was fast-paced and exciting. I really enjoyed the world the author has built here, and I can't wait to learn more about it, with Idris' book next in line. There are many enemies of the Gregorie, and of the humans for that matter, and the main characters have their work cut out for them. I'm very excited to see where this series will go from here. I highly recommend this to any paranormal romance lovers, or Megan Erickson lovers, for that matter. It was fantastic, exciting, sexy, and fun.