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Bloodstone
Tyler St. Claire has long tried to disregard her family's gift of second sight, but when her brother is abducted, Tyler can no longer deny her legacy. With the help of cop Evan Bartlock, Tyler uncovers information on a shadowy organization, along with a dark web of conspiracy and murder.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
31 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 15, 2016
I wait impatiently for each book in the Jane Yellowrock series and now I discover Ms Hunter writing as Gwen Hunter has a whole backlist I can enjoy!!
What I liked: Characters are a driving force on whether I enjoy a book and Ms Hunter more than delivers in Bloodstone. Not only with the characters but with the setting and an unconventional heroine and her family with imaginative "gifts".
Tyler has more or less given up on her heritage of second sight as she feels it's let her down too many times in the past. In addition, when she came into her gift, her estranged family wasn't available to teach her how to use and foster it. Now though, if she wants to help her kidnapped brother and protect his daughter, she needs a crash course in getting in touch with her second sight among other skills.
She's able to somewhat communicate with her brother, Davie, but feels her gifts are failing her again when she can't get enough information to actually find and rescue him. Imagine her surprise when a many times removed St. Claire cousin, Special Agent Evan Barlock, shows up on her doorstep to help in the search for her brother. Oh, and just to add an additional piece of stress to the situation, her niece, Jane, is very close to coming into the St. Claire gift and Tyler has no clue how to help her through the initial stages. The very person Tyler has avoided and ignored most of her adult life, Aunt Matilda, can't be reached for help in training Jane.
That's the basis for the story but Ms Hunter's execution of the plot and the characters is fantastic. Tyler is in the jewelry design and making business with three very good friends. They all play a different part in the business but are devoted to each other. They started from nothing and almost failed but their business has finally come into its own. This core group of characters is what sold Bloodstone to me. They are fantastically written. Each has depth and their own place in the story. I absolutely adore Jubal and Isaac. What a strong loving couple they are. They are also extremely loyal and protective not only of Tyler but Jane. I love that Ms Hunter took the time needed to develop these characters.
There are many twists and turns throughout the story but basically, I couldn't put Bloodstone down. It's not as polished as some of Ms Hunter's latest works but boy, I certainly enjoyed it.
What I didn't like: I found the "bad guys" to be a tad confusing but the closer I got to the end, more and more of the motives became clear; so don't give up on Bloodstone based on that.
Now I get to go shopping for more Gwen Hunter books. Jane Yellowrock will always be one of Ms Hunter's most definitive characters but I so enjoy her writing and imagination in executing her stories, I'm excited to read more Gwen Hunter books!
Recommended!!!!
What I liked: Characters are a driving force on whether I enjoy a book and Ms Hunter more than delivers in Bloodstone. Not only with the characters but with the setting and an unconventional heroine and her family with imaginative "gifts".
Tyler has more or less given up on her heritage of second sight as she feels it's let her down too many times in the past. In addition, when she came into her gift, her estranged family wasn't available to teach her how to use and foster it. Now though, if she wants to help her kidnapped brother and protect his daughter, she needs a crash course in getting in touch with her second sight among other skills.
She's able to somewhat communicate with her brother, Davie, but feels her gifts are failing her again when she can't get enough information to actually find and rescue him. Imagine her surprise when a many times removed St. Claire cousin, Special Agent Evan Barlock, shows up on her doorstep to help in the search for her brother. Oh, and just to add an additional piece of stress to the situation, her niece, Jane, is very close to coming into the St. Claire gift and Tyler has no clue how to help her through the initial stages. The very person Tyler has avoided and ignored most of her adult life, Aunt Matilda, can't be reached for help in training Jane.
That's the basis for the story but Ms Hunter's execution of the plot and the characters is fantastic. Tyler is in the jewelry design and making business with three very good friends. They all play a different part in the business but are devoted to each other. They started from nothing and almost failed but their business has finally come into its own. This core group of characters is what sold Bloodstone to me. They are fantastically written. Each has depth and their own place in the story. I absolutely adore Jubal and Isaac. What a strong loving couple they are. They are also extremely loyal and protective not only of Tyler but Jane. I love that Ms Hunter took the time needed to develop these characters.
There are many twists and turns throughout the story but basically, I couldn't put Bloodstone down. It's not as polished as some of Ms Hunter's latest works but boy, I certainly enjoyed it.
What I didn't like: I found the "bad guys" to be a tad confusing but the closer I got to the end, more and more of the motives became clear; so don't give up on Bloodstone based on that.
Now I get to go shopping for more Gwen Hunter books. Jane Yellowrock will always be one of Ms Hunter's most definitive characters but I so enjoy her writing and imagination in executing her stories, I'm excited to read more Gwen Hunter books!
Recommended!!!!
April 13, 2015
I loved the main core characters, but the bad guys were cardboard caricatures, so we didn't get to know or understand them, and when it finally became time to solve the who-done-it, I was kind of lost. The loose ends were tied up very abruptly, and I was left more confused than satisfied. There had been various parties fighting over Davie, the kidnapped brother of the first-person protagonist, Tyler. They had different motives and various people ended up dead, and I got confused on who had been working with whom and why and who killed whom. And, the revelations in the last couple of pages should have made a bigger impact on Tyler than they seemed to. Also, some of the decisions made and actions taken by various characters didn't seem very logical. The St. Claire gifts were interesting though.
May 18, 2016
You need to read this if you enjoyed Bloodring by Faith Hunter.
I recently read something by Faith Hunter where she explained how one idea became two different stories in two different genres (I think she referred to them as paranormal suspense and urban fantasy). It's been a few years since I read the Rogue Mage series, but I recognized many of the similarities between the two stories. At the same time, I was drawn into this world and hated to put the story down to read or sleep. In fact, it's 3:00 in the morning now! I really liked these characters and enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot - great book!
I recently read something by Faith Hunter where she explained how one idea became two different stories in two different genres (I think she referred to them as paranormal suspense and urban fantasy). It's been a few years since I read the Rogue Mage series, but I recognized many of the similarities between the two stories. At the same time, I was drawn into this world and hated to put the story down to read or sleep. In fact, it's 3:00 in the morning now! I really liked these characters and enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot - great book!
April 25, 2016
Well-written and fast-paced, Bloodstone grabbed my attention early and didn't let go. This was the first work I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
I especially enjoyed the way the author wove fascinating facts into the story - things like jewelry-making, gemology, gems, and minerals - without slowing the pace or intruding into the story.
I especially enjoyed the way the author wove fascinating facts into the story - things like jewelry-making, gemology, gems, and minerals - without slowing the pace or intruding into the story.
October 29, 2009
Wow! I will be buying more of her books.
February 22, 2023
This is a book I bought way back in the day at Walmart when it first came out. Back then, they had a section of romantic suspense books that were all 3-5 dollars and I would pick one up every time we went grocery shopping. I remember loving this one originally, but a lot of my favorites from back then don't hold up when I read them now. This one was a solidly good book though.
It had lots of action and events advancing the plot throughout the book. It felt like every chapter we had something exciting happen that kept you reading. I loved the characters as well. They were very realistic and I could perfectly see them as real people in my mind. The book also has a slight paranormal plotline, and that is really interesting. When I got to the end and the book was wrapping up, I was a little let down that it was such an easy bad guy to be behind the crimes. And then the author hits us with a surprise out of left field about who was REALLY behind it all, and I never ever saw that coming. I was shocked.
The one con, and the reason I took off a star, is that there are some REALLY 2005ish things in this book that are super dated now. Nothing super offensive, but definitely a product of its time and would be done differently today. For instance, at one point the character describes her super high tech, state of the art cell phone...and its a flip phone. And not even a cool one. And there was some slightly sterotypical descriptions/phrases to describe the gay couple in this book. But again, nothing super offensive. Just dated/cliche at times.
It had lots of action and events advancing the plot throughout the book. It felt like every chapter we had something exciting happen that kept you reading. I loved the characters as well. They were very realistic and I could perfectly see them as real people in my mind. The book also has a slight paranormal plotline, and that is really interesting. When I got to the end and the book was wrapping up, I was a little let down that it was such an easy bad guy to be behind the crimes. And then the author hits us with a surprise out of left field about who was REALLY behind it all, and I never ever saw that coming. I was shocked.
The one con, and the reason I took off a star, is that there are some REALLY 2005ish things in this book that are super dated now. Nothing super offensive, but definitely a product of its time and would be done differently today. For instance, at one point the character describes her super high tech, state of the art cell phone...and its a flip phone. And not even a cool one. And there was some slightly sterotypical descriptions/phrases to describe the gay couple in this book. But again, nothing super offensive. Just dated/cliche at times.
March 17, 2019
Family Tradition
Well plotted. Well developed characters. I liked the N.C. mountain setting, as well as the details of the gem business: visiting shows, sourcing stones online and the creative aspects of making jewelry. Liked the family.
Well plotted. Well developed characters. I liked the N.C. mountain setting, as well as the details of the gem business: visiting shows, sourcing stones online and the creative aspects of making jewelry. Liked the family.
November 28, 2018
2.5/5 I'm super confused but also into it - there was a lot that happened in this book so it did feel overwhelming at times but I was down for the psychic stuff!
January 19, 2019
Not a book I would normally read because it deals with psychics, but an exceptional story line. I enjoyed this book.
January 9, 2020
Good story line and characters but to much detail about stones and jewelry making I don't understand.
March 1, 2020
Brat's bravery with her friends is amazing in attempt to save her kidnapped brother. St. Claire power's involvement is perfectly done.
October 24, 2021
different
Took me a minute or so to get into it, but when I did the story started rolling right along.
Took me a minute or so to get into it, but when I did the story started rolling right along.
April 24, 2017
Enjoyed the main characters, and can see the genesis of the Thorn St Croix series here: many similarities. I think I prefer this version, with psychics but not seraphim.
July 6, 2016
4.5*
The writing is entertaining, the descriptions fascinating (rockhounds will love this!), the mystery is so-so, the protagonist is a bit irritating (she misses SO much & doesn't 'do' enough...and when she does connect with her brother? "Davie?" "Brat?" and repeat... Seriously?! I would be projecting the entire time anything I knew, hoping she'd pick it up!).
Even so, I had to rate it high; I was tickled with so much of it...read it in one day.
The writing is entertaining, the descriptions fascinating (rockhounds will love this!), the mystery is so-so, the protagonist is a bit irritating (she misses SO much & doesn't 'do' enough...and when she does connect with her brother? "Davie?" "Brat?" and repeat... Seriously?! I would be projecting the entire time anything I knew, hoping she'd pick it up!).
Even so, I had to rate it high; I was tickled with so much of it...read it in one day.
March 13, 2014
very good book kept you guessing who kidnapped her brother until the very end all though I was surprised by one of the antagonist never thought she or he would have backstabbed the leading heroine like that their was a crime solve a little bit of romance for the ladies some paranormal activity in it and hope you will give her a try
July 6, 2009
Lent it to my mom, will get it back eventually.
Want to read
April 22, 2010i totaally loved this book!
October 15, 2012
Great book. I can see precursors to the emergence of Faith Hunter as a strong, new fantasy writer.
May 26, 2013
Didn't like this book
December 27, 2014
You can definitely see the similarities between this book and her Thorne books.
September 5, 2015
Re read.
April 10, 2016
A good story with interesting characters. Want to read more of her books.
April 22, 2014
Set in our mountains
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews