Review: High Stakes & Hunted - Alex Duval

Malibu had been very, very good to him.  Even if the place was bursting with vampires.  Or maybe because it was.  There was one vampire who'd definitely made his life more intense and more exciting - Sienna.  Being with her made him feel more alive, even though entering her world had nearly made him dead.  He'd been attacked by a crazed vampire, consumed with bloodlust, and shot with a crossbow by a vampire hunter...And yet in spite of all the near-death experiences, Jason wouldn't have had his life any other way.  Sienna was worth it all.

It doesn't matter to Jason that his beautiful girlfriend isn't human - they are made for each other.  But Sienna and her fellow vampires hide dark, dangerous secrets and Jason's relationship - and his life are at risk...

Vampire Beach Series:
Bloodlust & Initiation
Ritual & Legacy
High Stakes & Haunted

Review:
This is a compilation of the last 2 books in the Vampire Beach series.  I wasn't too sure about continuing to read the series as I found Legacy (Book 4) was a disapointment but I'm happy to say that the last 2 installments were back on track. 

In High Stakes Sienna's sister Paige comes home for spring break & convinces the friends that a trip to Las Vegas would be a fun way to spend the holidays.  Paige is actually trying to hide out but trouble soon catches up with them and the gang are forced into a High Stakes poker game to try & win their way out. 

The conclusion to the series is Hunted, as I was reading I found myself guessing at the ending but there were actually a few surprise twists thrown in that I wasn't expecting.  Overall I quite enjoyed the series but I don't think it is aimed at a younger audience & won't appeal to as many adults as other YA series like Twilight, The House Of Night series & Vampire Diaries.  This series probably won't make it to my re-read pile (unlike the other series just mentioned) so I'd probably recommend borrowing it from the library rather than spending money to buy the books.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Ritual & Legacy - Alex Duval

He'd seen her look this gorgeous once before, when she had first told him that she was a vampire.  She'd let him see her true beauty then and it was just as mesmerizing now.  Her black hair glimmered in the dim light, her skin was sheer golden perfection and, all of a sudden, Jason felt like the biggest idiot in the world.  Why had he ever let himself think that Sienna would want to be with him?  She was one of them.  He wasn't.  End of story.  Then she turned.  Her dark eyes met his across the sea of faces, and she smiled.  A sizzle raced through Jason's body and all his doubt disappeared.  It didn't matter what she was or what he wasn't.  They were made for each other.

Jason's life in Malibu is looking up, especially now Sienna, the most beautiful girl in town, seems to be interested in him.  Jason is learning to live with Sienna's dark secret - that she and her friends are vampires - but is she more trouble than she's worth?

Vampire Beach Series:
Bloodlust & Initiation
Ritual & Legacy
High Stakes & Haunted

Review:
This book incudes the third & fourth installments in the Vampire Beach series by Alex Duval, although it is still the same size as an average book.  The story continues to be told from 17 year old Jason's perspective which gives this series an interesting twist however I don't find that the characters are as well fleshed out as they could be. 

I don't want to give too much away about the plot but Jason & Sienna finally manage to work out their issues & become a couple but the trouble doesn't end there.  They have a vampire hunter to deal with along with issues caused by Jason's Aunt & Sienna's parents.  I did find some of the plots interesting & Ritual wasn't bad but I found that Legacy didn't capture my attention. 

If I didn't already own the last book in the series I wouldn't have gone out & brought it and to be honest it's only the fact that I'm stubborn and have to know how the series ends that will make me read on.  I'm hoping that the last 2 stories are an improvement.  I'm 30 & although I love YA fiction like The House Of Night Series by PC & Kristen Cast I do think that this series is a little young for me.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Bloodlust & Initiation - Alex Duval

Sienna's dark hair was glossier than he'd ever seen it, her skin was clear and creamy, almost luminous, and her lips glowed a deep rose red that he didn't think came from lipstick.  She was stunning, spectacular, impossibly beautiful!  Jason realized he was starting.  "What is it?" he asked.  "Sienna, you can tell me anything."  And then Sienna smiled, slowly revealing a pair of very white, very sharp, and very real fangs. 

Jason has just moved to Maliby - home to rich kids and fabulous parties.  He's flattered to be included - and very flattered by the interest of the stunning Sienna.  But Sienna and her friends hide a dark secret...and jason is risking his life by falling for her.

Vampire Beach Series:
Bloodlust & Initiation
Ritual & Legacy
High Stakes & Haunted

Review:
This is the first 2 stories in the Vampire Beach series by Alex Duval combined into 1 book but overall it is probably about the same size as a normal book.  The covers caught my eye as they reminded me of the Twilight Saga of which I'm a big fan.  The books are written from 17 year old Jason's perspective which made a change.  I found the books very easy to read but they didn't capture me in the same way that other YA series I've read recently have.  There is a lot less romance in this series than you find in the Twilight Saga but that isn't too surprising considering it is written from a male perspective. 

Jason and his family move to Malibu after his Dad gets a new job with the help of his Aunt Bianca.  She also helps them find a new house in the exclusive DeVere Heights gated community.  Little do they know when they move in that all their new neighbours are vampires.  When Jason first sees Sienna he is immediatley attracted to her but she already has a boyfriend, who just happens to be one of the first people who befriended Jason when he started at his new school.  The attraction is mutual but will Sienna break up with her boyfriend so they can be together?  Add the boyfriend to Sienna's big secret that she is a vampire & things don't look too good for Jason.

Overall I enjoyed the book unlike a lot of the books I read I doubt that this will end up in my read-again pile.

Source: Purchased

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