Belle Morte is a young adult vampire romance with thrills and espionage thrown into the mix. Renie Mayfield is an eighteen-year-old girl living in a world where vampires are not only known about, but are basically celebrities. Renie’s sister was selected to become a blood donor and moved into one of the UK vampire mansions months ago, and Renie hasn’t heard from her in months. Desperate to find her sister, Renie applies to become a donor and go undercover at Belle Morte.
This book is told from two points of view. Renie’s POV is first person and dominates the narrative, but we also occasionally get the third=person point of view of Edmond, one of Belle Morte’s handsome vampires. While I enjoyed knowing what Edmond is thinking, and we find out right away that he’s keeping secrets, I would have preferred to have had only Renie’s POV, as that would have increased the suspense. Knowing that Edmond–and the other vampires–aren’t terrible monsters right away muted some of the story’s suspense.
The romance between Renie and Edmond is sweet and slow-burn, and I could definitely see a heavy influence from Twilight in the nature of the story. That said, the author is a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and I was delighted to spot some references to the horror classic. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but Renie Mayfield sure sounds a lot like Renfield! (Why else would you shorten “Irene” to “Renie”?) Fortunately, Renie is completely different from Renfield in personality and she isn’t doomed the same fate fate as that Stoker character. (Otherwise this wouldn’t be a romance!)
I loved the world-building in this book. While the majority of the story is set inside Belle Morte, we get a taste of what the world is like outside of it. Their world is like ours, but different, as everyone knows that vampires exist. They either love them, fear them, or despise them. Little bits of world building, such as the existence of “Vladdicts”–people who are obsessed with vampires–adds a flare of creativity and ingenuity to the book.
This book has a lot of talking, particularly in the beginning, but the storyline picks up pace towards the end of the book. While most of the plot points are quite predictable, you read these types of stories for the suspense and the forbidden love, and on these fronts, Higgins definitely delivers.
While this hasn’t been touted as being the start of a series, I got strong series vibes when reading this book–particularly with the way it ends. It’s not quite a cliffhanger, but there is a lot left unsaid, and this could easily be sequels.

Forbidden love, vampires, mystery, and strong sister bonds; all this really made me want to love it.

Vampires don't have to stalk people for blood anymore. They live in houses where humans willing become blood donors. One such house is Belle Morte. Donors live in the house, get paid good money, are fed well, and have fabulous clothes. Vampires are seen as celebrities which further adds to the appeal of being a donor. Sounds perfect, right? Except donors aren't allowed to leave the house until the vampires release them from their contract; that could be weeks or years. They can't refuse to feed a vampire. There is no outside technology allowed in the house. They can write letters to their loved ones, but they are read and approved before sent.

Renie's sister has always loved vampires. She also has always wanted a better life. So, it is no surprise when she decides to sign up to be a donor. When Renie's sister stops writing, Renie believes something has happened to her. She doesn't share her sister's love for vampires, but she signs up to be a donor to find out what happened to her. She will stop at nothing to find the truth. Even if that means crossing the strongest vampire in the house. Renie knew she would have to play the part of a willing donor in order to stay in the house long enough to find her sister. What she didn't expect was finding friends willing to stand by her side and falling in love with the thing she hates the most, a vampire.

Edmond has lived long enough to know to never let people in. The walls he has built around his heart are there for a reason. When Renie moves into the house, he struggles to keep those walls up. With each passing day, he falls harder and harder for her. But vampire and human relationships are forbidden. He also knows that once she finds out the truth about her sister and that he knew, she will hate him forever. He tries to get the leader of the house to tell Renie the truth, but she has her own plans for Renie.

This book started out strong. It slowed down a lot in the middle. I put it down several times because I got bored. Then towards the end, it picked back up. I really would have liked to see some of the middle tossed out and more done with the action towards the end. There was so much missed opportunity with all things pertaining with that end.

The main character was also annoying. I think she was meant to be seen as brave, but she came off as dumb and lacking impulse control. There were several times that I wanted to scream, "Just freaking think things through for once!" This was written like a younger YA so that could be a big part of my disdain. Plus, I was already irritated that Renie's POV was first person, but Edmond's was third.

I meant to start with the things I enjoyed but got a little off track. There were points in the book the Bella Higgin did an outstanding job at imagery. Her words were beautifully written. I hope to see more of that as she grows as an author. I also really like the friendship between Renie and Jason. I feel that everybody needs a Jason!

this is one of my fastest reads of this year, i just couldn't put the book down! would totally recommend to anyone who loves vampire stories. 4/5 stars

Looking for your next fantasy read? Belle Morte deserves a spot on your bookshelf next to all your favorite classic vampire series. Vampires and humans have found a way to co-exist peacefully.

Five houses exist where vampires live like royalty and feed on humans who sign up to be paid blood donors. This keeps the vamps from going on killing sprees fueled by bloodlust and the humans who sign up seem to get a thrill out of being paid to have their blood drunk.

But for Renie Mayfield, her decision to enter Belle Morte isn’t driven by a love of vampires; instead she’s on a quest to find out why she suddenly stopped hearing from her sister June who apparently went in and never came out.

I really enjoyed this one!

First Thoughts:
Short and simple - this book was a good debut. Lots of things that worked, a few things that didn't. However, I applaud the step into the vampire world!

Writing: 3/5
I had little problems with Higgins writing style. I think that the alternate POV could have been better executed. I feel like the majority of the time, when the alternative POV was used, it was only for the purpose of love interest. Most of the information Edmond had, our MC would find out anyways on her own, not so long after we got it from him. I could have done without the Edmond bits and preferred to have more character depth to our MC.

Plot: 3/5
The plot was the best driving force to this book. I like the high life vampire take. Usually, vampires are the dark, unknown creatures that are bound to secrecy. In this book, they are out in the open, bigger than celebrities. The mystery end of the book revolved primarily around our MC's sister's disappearance. While this was a bit predictable for me, I liked where this initial mystery brought about the "meat" of the book. We went from tunnel vision to big picture quicker than I thought but the execution was great!

Characters: 2.5/5
Here is where I was about 50/50. Half of the characters I enjoyed and found amusing. As for the other half, I felt like they were too quickly developed and therefore fell to the most typical bookish characters you could get. Our MC's best friends in Belle Morte were my favorite. They both were the perfect upbeat and comedic relief characters a vampire book needs. The vampires unfortunately were just too textbook. There was quite literally no life to them. Vampires can be witty and unserious too. I get that they've lived many lives but they were in fact human at some point. They get to have unique characteristics...and not just in looks (this too was very textbook for me).

Romance: 2/5
Welcome back to Edward and Bella...just give Bella a bit more spice. I could not feel the chemistry for the life of me! I could not buy into the unexpected magnetism.

Overall:
Again, this book had enough qualities to make it a good debut. However, there was just a few too many elements that felt more like a Tumblr fan-fiction than a top tier vampire book. That being said, I am appreciative of Netgalley and Wattpad for allowing me early access to this book! You win some, you lose some. This one just wasn't for me.

In recent years, vampires made themselves known to the public. As such, they were thrust into the limelight and made celebrities. Renie applies to be a live-in blood donor at the Belle Morte house of vampires. But her real mission is to find her sister, June, who vanished from the mansion. When she comes face to face with a gorgeous vampire, she has to fight the instant pull she feels toward him. She can't afford any distractions in her search for her sister. But unfortunately for her, she can't resist him any more than he can resist her.

Firstly, I loved the idea of this novel. Bringing vampire lore into the modern world, with all of the parasocial relationships we create as consumers, was a really great touch. Having a donor system so that vampires don't have to be monsters to feed was so creative as well. The foundation of this novel was fantastic, and it had the potential to be something incredible.

However, the plotline became predictable fairly early. The villain becomes obvious almost immediately because they are introduced and then all but disappear into the background. And the love story between Renie and Edmond feels lackluster because he has had a deep, romantic relationship with almost every female vampire he knows.

Overall, I rated Belle Morte three out of five stars. The idea and foundation were great, but the execution of the details and the plot left something to be desired.

Thoughts
My expectations for Wattpad publications aren't high, and so I was pleasantly surprised. This is far, far from the best book out there, but it was admittedly decent. The Wattpad algorithm for what gets picked up for publication is highly predictable. This book fits the demographic, but its execution is a notch higher than the rest. Just, though, a notch.


Pros
Surprisingly Good: This is not a diss at all directed at Bella Higgin. It's a purely I've-got-low-expectations comment directed at the publishing imprint. Higgin's writing isn't perfect--and her plotting is far from it--but it is still... surprisingly good. That is to say, this book is legible, readable, even decently enjoyable from time to time. In fact, it's kind of a shame Higgin's debut is coming from Wattpad, because in the hands of another house, this book (and any subsequent career) would have much higher hopes. I hope Bella Higgin doesn't get left behind because of this debut. I don't believe this is the best showcase of Higgin's work.

Multi-POV Romance: Does this romance include a lot of things I don't like? Oh, yes, it does. But I do appreciate an author who will give her male perspective a chance to shine. Renie is the lead here, no doubt, but a few chapters dip into her vampire love interest--what he sees, what he feels, what he knows about the situation surrounding them. This perspectival switch gives us insight that romance doesn't usually give--a very important insight, I think, if we're experiencing mutual insta-love. So I appreciate it.

Friends: I mean, a vampire book where the leading lady has a cast of friends that actually come into play? Friends who aren't just cardboard cut-outs that fade from her life as she gets consumed (figuratively and literally) by her vampire beau? That's nice. It's nice to have active friends portrayed in this genre. Sure, I took some issue with the portrayal of these friends--especially the heavily-stereotyped "gay-best-friend" archetype that makes his way into these pages--but the fact that these friends exist at all is a step in the right direction.

Cons
Abundantly French: What I mean by this is... this worldbuilding makes no sense. The vampire house in question is located in the UK, and yet all of the vampires (or all of the memorable ones, anyway) have very obviously French names? You're telling me not a single dandy-turned-vampire made his way into this vampire house that is set, you know, in the British Isles? Why not just set the whole thing in France? I mean, why?

Insta-Lust: I hate the insta-love/insta-lust sort of romance trope--or writing foible, as I see it. This trope, to me, dates a piece very badly, calling us back to the time when YA was still a young marketing category. The heavy reliance on insta-lust--as well as the throwback sort of vampire plot--mean this book doesn't feel contemporary. It feels a little bit 2008, and it very well might have its origins there if it was pulled from the archives of Wattpad. It doesn't feel fresh.

Non-Threatening Vampires: We did sparkly, maybe-I'll-eat-you-or-maybe-I'll-just-make-out-with-you vampires already. And that's fine. For the record, I don't hate Twilight, at least in book form. I enjoyed the series, to some extent. So I'm not saying, "Kill it with fire!" I'm just saying that maybe we should get some actually scary vampires sometime soon? If you like your vampires with some bite, this isn't the book for you.

Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4/10

Fans of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight will enjoy this new glitzy world of immortals. Those who liked the trope-y fun of Tracy Wolff's Crave will like these new celebrity vampires.

I see a lot of three star reviews and share a similar opinion as them. This reads as a debut. It has an incredibly basic plot and seemed fairly predictable. Saying that sounds like it should be a one or two star, but there were quite a few redeeming qualities to it as well. It was fun and entertaining. I was able to guess the ending, but I also still had a good time. I would love to see the author grow.

i am a vampire/paranormal reader fan so when i saw this book & its synopsis it intrigued me and i wanted to read this book. i like the new take on vampires that this book is about. vampires are no longer hiding, they are living among humans, created a sonar systems & they are celebrities. Renie has been chosen to be a donor to celebrity vampires in exchange to learn about their lifestyle & fame afterwards. however Renie could care less about vampires or fame she’s there to find out what happen to her sister June who was previously chosen as a donor prior and has gone missing and she is determined to find out what happen. And there she meets a handsome vampire Edmond… The book describes the vampire rules & system as to what they need to abide to in order to live a long side humans. I felt that there could have been more romance building & romantic scenes as i love vampire paranormal books that have romance in there. the book is written as two point of view. the book ends in. semi cliffhanger so if you hate cliffhangers beware. i received this arc book & i’m posting my voluntary review.

Thank you to theNetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty straight forward vampire story.
In a modern world vampires live openly as celebrities, and invite donors to live in "Houses" with them to feed upon. When the main character's sister goes missing she applies as a donor herself to find out what happened to her.
It was a quick read. Compared to other vampire books I've read and enjoyed more the writing was a bit flat, basic sotryline.

Disclaimer : I received an ARC of this book

My review disappeared and I don’t feel like going back on details and negative emotions so here is a resume:

- weird use and phrasing of French
- vampires known who are like celebrity
-nice manor; her sister was a donor and disappeared so she goes to look for her
- bland storytelling and now that I know it’s a watt pad series it makes so much more sense (in a bad way)
- boring character
- next to nothing really happening overall (some things here and there but really not much), extremely basic and predictable plot and the pacing is off (in the grand scheme of things)
- Love triangle 💀
- dual pov which is nice (should’ve kept them separated in different chapters however it would have flown better)
- overly descriptive descriptions of houses, places and outfits (a good amount is nice but this was over the top ALL THE TIME)
- a « not like other girls » main character … (can we lose the internalized misogyny, the whole « she’s so much better because she doesn’t care about vampire celebrities »)
- next to no character building

Anyhow this had good concepts like the manor and how the vampire lived by donations and out in the open.
But since we don’t (or at least I didn’t ) care about anyone and nothing really went down, it felt like the author was just filling pages with descriptions since they had so little to do in the story plot wise and needed to fill the in between, I love descriptions when there’s actual plot lines and points to it)
It was a good concept and poor poor poor execution…
1.5/5 🌟
BooKarina

Belle Morte, which intriguing on the outside, was a flop in my opinion. I enjoy a good vampire story but not in this sense. Futuristic vampires and willing donors is not my thing. All in all this one just wasn’t for me but I could see how it could be intriguing to some.

I’m not sure why this book has so many bad reviews at the moment, because I thought this was actually quite fun to read.

I think the most important thing to understand is how difficult it is for a writer to present to the readers something original when writing about vampires, as we have read all kinds of vampire stories by now, in all the sauces and recipes possible. I guess other readers like me are still burned after Empire of the Vampire, and thinking of that godforsaken empire, with silversaints and tattoos, so from my perspective, it takes guts for an indie writer to say “Hey, I wrote about, yet again, vampires”. Hence, this story gets my full support.

Belle Morte has an unusual setting as it takes place in modern age England. Now, I’m not an expert, I don’t know if the idea at the base of Belle Morte that humans volunteer as blood donors is completely new. I quite enjoyed the vampires turned celebrities thing, and it took me back to those nights spent binge-watching True Blood.

I get that the story is not fully linear, the plot gets messier and messier, the “murder mystery” (yes, you have sexy vampires and a potential murderer to find) is easily put aside and the focus is all on the impossible and forbidden romance between a vampire and a donor. However, this story is a manifesto of why we keep going back to vampire stories, why they are such fascinating fantasy creatures who never get boring.

The writing is not perfect, but it was very easy to read and I still enjoyed the side characters and bite descriptions. The ending was extremely rushed and lacked build-up, and I wasn’t aware there was going to be a sequel, which was a bit disappointing. I still enjoyed the luxurious lifestyle of the donors and these gorgeous vampires trying to find their space in modern human society.

This is definitely a story I wouldn’t mind continuing to read and I would definitely recommend keeping an eye on this writer.

Unfortunately this wasn’t a hit for me. ):
I love vampires, but this whole book really could have used a good sweep through by readers, or an editor, to give it some better direction and structure.

It’s very YA, but some of the language and content caught me off guard, like maybe it’s somewhere around 16+. I won’t be reading the next one.

This book was very middle of the road for me. The writing definitely reads like a debut novel and once I got past that, I started really enjoying the story. But once I got to about halfway through the book, the story starting slowing down and not much really happened until the very end, which I think could have been extended a little longer to really get the most out of all the chaos that was occurring.

Something I did really enjoy though was the romance between Edmond and Renie. It was pretty PG-13, in no small part because human and vampire relationships were strictly off-limits, but there were a lot of stolen moments and longing between the two that kept me going. And I shamelessly enjoyed the fact that to heal vampire bites, the vampire has to LICK a donor’s fang wounds. It upped the steamy vibe that a secluded house full of vampires already has.

Renie, the MC, is…annoying. There’s really no way around it. She brash and impulsive and talks to creatures that could literally snap her neck in an instant as if she’s untouchable. That may be endearing to some but I just felt it was unrealistic. I feel like many of these hundreds of years old vampires wouldn’t have tolerated it, but she rarely got reprimanded for her behavior.

It ended in a way that seems like there will be a book 2 and I think the set-up at the end made it so that the sequel will have a lot more going on both in the story and in Renie and Edmond’s relationship.

Read if you enjoy:
🩸 Vampires in the modern world
🩸 Forbidden romance
🩸 Reckless heroines
🩸 HUGE age gaps
🩸 Sister bonds

Quick Summary: Wow! Again, I say wow!!!

My Review: Belle Morte was everything! Although it took a minute for the story to get into a steady flow, once it did pick up the pace, its rhythm was swift and strong. This story had great characters, it had exciting drama, and it had insane suspense.

As the story continued to reveal the underlying issues at hand, I found myself wondering a number of things, such as: Who committed the crime against Renie's sibling and why? Why were relations between vampires and donors forbidden? Was there more than one vampire who wanted a deeper human connection? Was the rabid being controlled somehow? Who staged the battle and infiltration? Was there a strategic plan to eliminate certain houses? Was there a new order coming for key players? Why was there such a difference in how Renie and her sister responded to that which shall not be named? (I don't want to ruin things for others, so I'll keep that which shall not be named vague. However, I will add a "Duh duh duh!") What was the deal with Gideon? Why was it that Melissa and her boyfriend were so pushy with Renie after shutting her down initially? Why did Edmond and Renie have such intense chemistry? So many questions!

By the time I got to the end of this story, I confess that I was elated by the revelations made by Edmond and Renie, I suddenly had a keen interest in Ludovic and Roux, I wanted to better understand Belle Morte's leader, I wanted to see inside the other houses and into the minds of the other vampires who visited Belle Morte, especially that dark vamp who assaluted Renie, and I pondered why the author left me hanging with an "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE END OF THE STORY!" (Way to keep me wanting more. High five on that, by the way.)

A Special Note: Often it can be rather challenging to establish a new series or to build new worlds. It can also be difficult to create characters who are loved by the masses just as much as by the writer herself. I believe that this author did a really good job with her set up. While many questions were answered in the story, many remained. That is a good thing that can draw readers in and influence them, causing them to want to invest themselves into the story. This story has room to grow. I can see its potential. Allowing it to continue its evolution...there should be no doubt.

My Final Say: At this point, I can unwaveringly say that I am well and truly hooked and cannot wait to find out more about this incredible world and its amazing beings.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA (* There is potential for it to jump into NA and A.)
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Interest in being a Beta reader: YES!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me access to this e-ARC. A Goodreads posting has been made.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

It's been a long while since I read a vampire romance and I will always support the community of Wattpad authors on their journey, so naturally I was really excited to read Belle Morte. This book was easy reading with minimal action and a nice addition to the vampire lovers out there.

Renie embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her sister, June. She walked into the doors of Belle Morte and never walked back out, so Renie signs herself up to be a blood donor at Belle Morte to find out why her sister stopped sending letters, and to find out what really happened behind those closed doors because she knows her sister was not transferred to another house. Finding out what happened, though, is proving harder than she thought when everyone either doesn't know what happened to June, or is not willing to talk. So she finds out herself.

My views on Belle Morte are conflicting. I enjoyed the growing relationship between Renie and Edmond. Slowly, Renie learns that she may not hate vampires as much as she originally thought and she may be attracted to Edmond, despite a human/vampire relationship being forbidden. Renie and Edmond's relationship was the only one where I seen natural development. I enjoyed their interactions, Edmond's storytelling and the ending? I need to know what happens next.

Belle Morte was slow progressing with a basic plot. Action didn't pick up until the 60/70% mark and by the time things kicked into action, it was over far too soon with a cliff-hanger. The character growth gave off 'insta friends' vibes rather than seeing the friendships develop throughout which meant I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

While Belle Morte didn't consume me, overall it was still an enjoyable read and the ending really solidified my need to read book two. I hope we see more from Renie and Edmond, and the aftermath from the cliffhanger.

3.75/5 🌟

Thanks NetGalley and Wattpad Book for providing me this ARC.

Well, well, well… As a fan of vampire books this was pretty good. I have to be honest, I didn’t quiet like the first part of the book, the mystery about Renie’s sister was the only thing who let me keep going through the book and I’m glad I did it. The second part was a turning point. Even though the insta love trope isn’t my thing I appreciate the romance between the main characters (Edmond is a Sweetheart, he reminds me of a certain notorious vampire and I appreciate the fact he doesn’t stare to the female main character while she sleeping lol), I like the supporting characters (Roux my precious little one) and the plot twists were good, but sometime predictable.
The ending is what really make me think “omg I want to know what is going to happen NOW”. Can’t wait to know what’s next.
Good job, Bella.

If you are a Twilight fan, trust me you’re going to like it. This really gave me 2008 vibes.

Man, THIS BOOK y'all. I was in the mood for a good and new vampire book, and Bella Higgin has absolutely delivered. Belle Morte, simply put, was dark, glittering and entrancing. Renie Mayfield comes to the Vampire House Belle Morte as a donor to find out what happened to her sister, June. What she stumbles upon is a world of glitz and glamour, filled with secrets worse than anything she could have imagined. What's worse is her budding attraction to handsome vampire Edmond, who has secrets of his own. I adored the Gossip-Girl meets Twilight vibes that his one had in spades. The world-building where vampires are basically celebrities', live in "houses" and humans volunteer themselves as blood donors was super unique and unlike anything I've seen before. Everything about Belle Morte is extravagant and you can't help but just be intrigued by both the setting and the story itself. I really loved the romance between Edmond and Renie and how it develops. I can't help but draw a lot of Twilight comparisons. I loved Twilight as a teen but as an adult Edward Cullen creeps me out. BUT Edmond is alike the anti-Edward, everything I wanted the former to be and more. And he's just really swoony and the tension with he and Renie was straight fire. I found myself unable to look away as the book progressed and went to unexpected and some expected places, but overall I really was floored by the time I finished it! Belle Morte is a story of extravagance, power and family, and is a debut you don't want to miss if you enjoy a fresh vampire novel like me!

I enjoyed this book. I liked the vampire world building and the story was different and unique. The MC was a little annoying, but not enough to detract from the story. This did end on a massive cliffhanger so I will definitely be reading the next book. My only real problem with this eARC was the formatting and editing were subpar. The formatting was really distracting, but I’m sure this will be corrected in the final draft.