"Turn of events releases Curry from the bond of his obsessive maker, he returns to the home he knew 161 years earlier and finds the return of happiness and joy in something he didn’t know existed. Puzzled by his growing attraction to Chansey Leclaire, a human, he is unable to resist the captivating relationship that threatens to reveal his existence as a vampire."
Author: Georgia CatesPages: 200 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Published: June, 2011
Form: E-book (review copy from the tour for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Fiction
Series: The Vampire Agápe #1
Amazon: Buy / $3.44 (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $0.99 (Nook)
Smashreads: Buy / $0.99 (E-book)
Excerpt: Close call...
"Cruel circumstances turned Curry Brennan into the wretched monster he hates and refuses to accept, but when an expected turn of events releases him from the bond of his obsessive maker, he returns to the home he knew 161 years earlier and finds the return of happiness and joy in something he didn’t know existed. Puzzled by his growing attraction to Chansey Leclaire, a human, he is unable to resist the captivating relationship that threatens to reveal his existence as a vampire. He eventually discovers the reason he was destined to find what he didn’t know he searched for and is faced with the cruel realization that the living and the immortal undead will always be separated by one thing. Eternity. "
This book was new, I've read a lot of vampire stories, the good and the bad, the well-worn to the unique stories - Blood of Anteros the first book in the series was definitely new.
James Curry Brennan was born in 1850, turned to a vampire against his will when 26 has colored his whole life, from obsessive Marsala to meeting Solomon and learning there is more to life than cruelty. Curry has a sort of stunted emotional view of life colored by rage until he begins to listen to Solomon who becomes his mentor. Curry's voice was unique, it was little slow, scared and unemotional. It was interesting to read but it wasn't really passionate until some events with Chansey brought out in him the protective instinct and he became aware that he was falling for a human - which vampires just aren't able to do, this of course confuses him even more.
Chansey I liked, she was lighthearted, upbeat, a young woman who devoted time to her friends and family. Having lost her family in car crash all she has are her grandparents who she decides to move in with for the summer to escape Julian her campus neighbor who has become obsessed with her far enough for her to get a restraining order. Her grandparents’ house has a new tenant though, Curry, who she can't help but feel for. She seems to like him, but his quietness and elusiveness keeps her constantly at arm’s length even though he protects her from Julian and can't seem to stand her friend Crosby.
It's interesting how this book reads like a YA novel even though both characters are consenting adults, it also has that Christian Fiction feel with going no further than kissing, and waiting to have sex till married - which let's face it isn't what I normally read, none the less I found this book very interesting, I liked the new take on vampires, I liked the idea of agape, I liked Chansey and her grandparents, I liked Curry even though he made me frustrated at times reacting to things so slowly.
You'll like this if... you like to read paranormal fiction and paranormal YA and want a happily ever after that doesn't include "getting it on". ;) If you like your heroines kind and lighthearted and your heroes absolutely decent and putting their girl always first even when they have to leave to guarantee their safety, then this is for you!
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Character Profiles for Curry and Chansey
by Georgia Gates
Who is James “Curry” Brennan before he became a vampire?Born August 11, 1824 in New Orleans to James and Claudia Brennan.
The eldest of 3 children.
One younger brother, Sullivan Augustus “Sully” Brennan.
One younger sister, Scarlet Brennan
Born into a family of shipbuilders.
As an adult, sets out on his own from New Orleans to coastal Mississippi where the shrimping business was booming and successfully builds his own shipbuilding business.
Asks his younger brother, Sully, to join him as a partner in his thriving business in an effort to distance him from the troublesome people he has become acquainted with in New Orleans.
Although Sully leaves trouble behind in New Orleans, some of it follows him to his new home with Curry in Pascagoula in the form of his vampire lover, Marsala, whom becomes obsessed with Curry.
Marsala’s obsession of Curry drives the brothers apart. Sully hates Curry, believing he stole Marsala from him.
Who is Curry after he becomes a vampire?
He was unaware of the existence of vampires when he was turned by his brother’s lover, Marsala, and is confused upon rising as a vampire.
Loathes Marsala and the monster he believes he became when she turned him.
Held captive by Marsala for 139 years before an unexpected turn of events releases him from her hold.
After his release from Marsala, he carries the burden of what he is and all he should have been before he was turned. Although he learns to live with what he has become, he never truly accepts himself.
Who is Chansey Leclaire?
Born July 11, 1989 to Laura and Steven Leclaire.
The middle child of three daughters.
1) One older sister, a twin named Emelyn Leclaire, was stillborn minutes before Chansey was born.
2) One younger sister, named Hannah Leclaire
Spends her childhood blaming herself for her twin’s death.
Her parents and younger sister are killed in a car accident when Chansey is 10. She is raised by her mother’s parents, Anna and Grady.
She is a college student, an elementary education major. Wants to teach kindergarten because she loves young children.
Works in a casino as a hotel clerk while going to college.
Dates, but is unable to become serious. She questions her own sanity because of an inner feeling that won’t go away. For as long as she could remember, there was always an inner knowledge that “the one” was out there somewhere and he would coming for her one day.
I hope these character profiles help you see Curry and Chansey’s dynamic personalities and the reason I love them so much.
One younger sister, Scarlet Brennan
Born into a family of shipbuilders.
As an adult, sets out on his own from New Orleans to coastal Mississippi where the shrimping business was booming and successfully builds his own shipbuilding business.
Asks his younger brother, Sully, to join him as a partner in his thriving business in an effort to distance him from the troublesome people he has become acquainted with in New Orleans.
Although Sully leaves trouble behind in New Orleans, some of it follows him to his new home with Curry in Pascagoula in the form of his vampire lover, Marsala, whom becomes obsessed with Curry.
Marsala’s obsession of Curry drives the brothers apart. Sully hates Curry, believing he stole Marsala from him.
Who is Curry after he becomes a vampire?
He was unaware of the existence of vampires when he was turned by his brother’s lover, Marsala, and is confused upon rising as a vampire.
Loathes Marsala and the monster he believes he became when she turned him.
Held captive by Marsala for 139 years before an unexpected turn of events releases him from her hold.
After his release from Marsala, he carries the burden of what he is and all he should have been before he was turned. Although he learns to live with what he has become, he never truly accepts himself.
Born July 11, 1989 to Laura and Steven Leclaire.
The middle child of three daughters.
1) One older sister, a twin named Emelyn Leclaire, was stillborn minutes before Chansey was born.
2) One younger sister, named Hannah Leclaire
Spends her childhood blaming herself for her twin’s death.
Her parents and younger sister are killed in a car accident when Chansey is 10. She is raised by her mother’s parents, Anna and Grady.
She is a college student, an elementary education major. Wants to teach kindergarten because she loves young children.
Works in a casino as a hotel clerk while going to college.
Dates, but is unable to become serious. She questions her own sanity because of an inner feeling that won’t go away. For as long as she could remember, there was always an inner knowledge that “the one” was out there somewhere and he would coming for her one day.
I hope these character profiles help you see Curry and Chansey’s dynamic personalities and the reason I love them so much.
