Review - Bittersweet Blood - Nina Croft - 5 Stars

Title: Bittersweet Blood (The Order)
Author: Nina Croft
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy/PNR/thriller combo
Length: Novel - 246 pgs
Reviewed by Douglas C. Meeks

Summary:

Tara Collins just wants to be normal. Everyone else wants her dead.

Tara’s eccentric aunt raised her to be fearful of the world and follow the rules. But after her aunt’s death, Tara is ready to take control and experience life for the first time. But she quickly discovers that everything she’s been told is a web of lies. Determined to solve the mystery of who she is truly, she hires private investigator to help her uncover the truth.

Christian Roth is more than your average PI. A vampire and ex-demon hunter, Christian lives among the humans, trying to be “normal.” But recently, things seem to be falling apart. There’s a crazed demon hell-bent on revenge hunting him down, and a fae assassin on the loose with an unknown target. And the Order he abandoned desperately needs his help.

As the secrets of Tara’s past collide with the problems in Christian’s present, she finds herself fighting her attraction to the dark and mysterious investigator. Falling in love does not fit into her plans at all, but Tara soon learns that some rules are meant to be broken.

Review Break Out by Nina Croft

Title: Break Out (A Blood Hunter Novel, Book 1)
Author: Nina Croft
Source: Publisher request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook, 116 pgs
Release Date: July 5, 2011

Irreverent. Irresponsible. Insatiable. Who says immortals can't have any fun?

The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.

Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun!

If you are looking for a quick romance that delivers hot and delicious with lots of sexual tension than this novella is it.

Break Out by Nina Croft is one of my new favorites. I love when I get my hands on a novella that starts off strong and just gets better. I was impressed how well the story flowed nicely with each scene and each character introduced perfectly. I never felt like I was left to fill in missing details because the story was too big for a novella.

Ricco is a very old, very clever and very sexy vampire that's just taken Skylar up on her offer to make a lot of money and break a lot of rules. With one condition, Ricco has an added request to the offer for a bonus payment. All he and his crew have to do is break into the highest level of the maximum security prison on Trakis One to break out a prisoner. No problem right?
Well, the job made not be a problem, but for Skylar staying focused on it may turn out to be. Ricco has a certain unresistable charm and when things get a out of control, a little too soon, Skylar learns they have a lot of hot chemistry between them. If only Skylar would admit to her feelings for him and stop running away the fun could get started. And why run away when you have one determined sex hungry vampire interested in you? Because Skylar has a secret and she is determined to keep it while finishing the job. She just has to keep her distance from Ricco. Easier said than done because Ricco doesn't care about her excuses. He is going to get Skylar alone again to finish what they started. Afterall, they have a deal! He just has to get her to stop avoiding him. A little more honesty from Skylar as to who she is and why she is really there would be nice too, but it doesn't matter to Ricco. He knows how he feels and he knows he wants Skylar.

Nina throws just the right amount of hints in there to drive you crazy with curiosity and keep you turning the page to find out what in the world is going on. I literally couldn't stop reading once I got started. It was such a sweet story and the sex scenes were hot. There was just enough to leave me panting for more! I can't wait to read what's next in the Blood Hunter's series and see what she has planned for the other characters in this novella, especially Al!

I highly recommend you stop and read Break Out as soon as you can!