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Alexandra Jones #1
First Bitten
A love story with bite …...
Walking home after a night out drowning her sorrows with her best friend, Carrie, Alexandra Jones stupidly takes a phone call from her cheating ex-boyfriend, Eddie, and in her anger hurls her phone into the forest before her.
But when Alex goes to retrieve her phone from the undergrowth, she and Carrie come face-to-face with a monster they never even knew existed, a Vârcolac (a nightmarish vampire-werewolf hybrid) and he's in search of fresh blood. The next thing Alex knows, she is staring at the impossibly handsome but mysterious Nathan who has helped bring her back to life, but not to the life she left.
To her horror, she discovers she has now become a blood-drinking Vârcolac herself and she is the only female of her kind, with the potential for breeding a whole new army of Vârcolacs if they can only track her down and press her into service.
And while Alex gets to know Nathan and his shape-shifting family as they offer her the protection she so desperately needs, unbeknown to all of them, the Vârcolacs are getting closer …
Walking home after a night out drowning her sorrows with her best friend, Carrie, Alexandra Jones stupidly takes a phone call from her cheating ex-boyfriend, Eddie, and in her anger hurls her phone into the forest before her.
But when Alex goes to retrieve her phone from the undergrowth, she and Carrie come face-to-face with a monster they never even knew existed, a Vârcolac (a nightmarish vampire-werewolf hybrid) and he's in search of fresh blood. The next thing Alex knows, she is staring at the impossibly handsome but mysterious Nathan who has helped bring her back to life, but not to the life she left.
To her horror, she discovers she has now become a blood-drinking Vârcolac herself and she is the only female of her kind, with the potential for breeding a whole new army of Vârcolacs if they can only track her down and press her into service.
And while Alex gets to know Nathan and his shape-shifting family as they offer her the protection she so desperately needs, unbeknown to all of them, the Vârcolacs are getting closer …
ebook
First published January 22, 2012
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3809 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Towle
36 books12k followersSamantha Towle is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
A native of Hull, she lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, their son and daughter, and three large furbabies.
She is the author of contemporary romances, The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series, and standalones, Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, River Wild, Dead Pretty, The Two Week Stand and Sacking the Quarterback which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances, The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series. With over a million books sold, her titles have appeared in countless bestseller lists, and are currently translated into ten languages.
To receive an email when Samantha releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter - http://samanthatowle.co.uk/newsletter...
You can also find Samantha at -
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samantha-Tow...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samtowlewrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtowlewri...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/saman...
A native of Hull, she lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, their son and daughter, and three large furbabies.
She is the author of contemporary romances, The Storm Series, The Revved Series, The Wardrobe Series, The Gods Series, and standalones, Trouble, When I Was Yours, The Ending I Want, Unsuitable, Under Her, River Wild, Dead Pretty, The Two Week Stand and Sacking the Quarterback which was written with James Patterson. She has also written paranormal romances, The Bringer and The Alexandra Jones Series. With over a million books sold, her titles have appeared in countless bestseller lists, and are currently translated into ten languages.
To receive an email when Samantha releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter - http://samanthatowle.co.uk/newsletter...
You can also find Samantha at -
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samantha-Tow...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samtowlewrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtowlewri...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/saman...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
September 24, 2016
BORING! This book was so, so, so boring. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen and nothing does. Nothing. The most interesting part of this book was the Brit slang.
You know what the whole, entire plot of this book was? What's her face, the female mc, being attacked (first chapter) and turned into a vamp-werewolf hybrid (chapter 2) and living on a farm (all the rest of the chapters). She's in seclusion because she can't come out as a vamp-were thing, obv, so she's dead to family and friends and avoiding seeing people who could recognize her as a missing person. The book is just about her living on a farm with the guy who saved her. There's a slight problem for a chapter or two, then the end. Yeah. Fascinating book. (Sarcasm, in case you were confused).
The book is all from what's her face's POV with a few from her savior's POV. Both were boring and didn't seem that different from each other.
I'm not sure what genre this was going for, but I'd like to nominate for the recycle bin genre. And you know what I'm not reading next? The next book in this series.
You know what the whole, entire plot of this book was? What's her face, the female mc, being attacked (first chapter) and turned into a vamp-werewolf hybrid (chapter 2) and living on a farm (all the rest of the chapters). She's in seclusion because she can't come out as a vamp-were thing, obv, so she's dead to family and friends and avoiding seeing people who could recognize her as a missing person. The book is just about her living on a farm with the guy who saved her. There's a slight problem for a chapter or two, then the end. Yeah. Fascinating book. (Sarcasm, in case you were confused).
The book is all from what's her face's POV with a few from her savior's POV. Both were boring and didn't seem that different from each other.
I'm not sure what genre this was going for, but I'd like to nominate for the recycle bin genre. And you know what I'm not reading next? The next book in this series.
March 9, 2013
I really loved this book. It was different to what I was expecting, but it grabbed me from the very start, and I was hooked the whole way through.
Alex is a great character. She is very relatable, and I felt an instant connection with her. We first meet her when she is walking home with her best friend from a big night out. She is attacked in the woods, and wakes up days later in a strange bed with a hot guy watching over her, and no idea how she got there.
Our hero, Nathan, explains to her that he saved her after she was attacked and bitten by a Vârcolac – a vampire / werewolf hybrid. And more to the point, she has now become a Vârcolac herself, and is the only female to have ever survived the transition. Knowing that she would be abused and used as a breeding machine if she were ever discovered by the Vârcolac race, and unable to return to her human life, she is taken in by Nathan’s family – his Dad, Jack, and younger brother, Sol – a shifter family who live on a remote farm.
A big part of this book is Alex struggling with what she has become, and trying to deal with the crushing guilt of all that she has left behind. The other major focus is the chemistry between her and Nathan. Damn!
Nathan is an interesting hero. Broody and mysterious, he is scruffily hot (of course) but he can also be arrogant and callous, with a no nonsense attitude. After nursing Alex back to health, Nathan barely interacts with her unless he absolutely has to. She thinks he views her as a freak of nature, and tries to stay out of his way. But she slowly learns more about him, and discovers that he is a complex man, with some serious demons in his past. When she finally calls him out on being an “arse”, he stops being such a bastard to her, and things begin to change.
“I’ve gone from intensely disliking the guy, to wanting to rip off his clothes in a matter of days.”
The chemistry between these two zings from the very beginning, but when Alex suddenly starts to pay attention to the brooding hot guy, and his interest becomes clear, the UST ramps up to sizzling.
“You annoy the crap out of me!” I yell back.
He’s behind me now. Hooking my arm, he swings me around to face him, pulling me close. “You know what?” His face is angry but his eyes hold a lot of depth. “You annoy the crap out of me too but it still doesn't stop me from wanting to do this."
Then he takes my face in his hands and kisses me.
Seriously - I squeed out loud when that happened. But just as they are getting their shit together, a devastating betrayal, and the sudden (and badly timed) appearance of the bad guys brings Alex and Nathan’s worlds crashing down around them.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of emotion, a few ‘OMG’ moments, and some thrills, but it was also really funny - I wasn’t expecting it to be as funny as it was, and I was laughing out loud a number of times at Alex’s inner monologue.
"How Nathan doesn't know I fancy him is beyond me. I may as well walk around with a sandwich board, saying 'I heart Nathan', ringing a bell"
The PNR element is there, but it is minor (not a lot of ‘fang and fur’ action), with most of the action focussed around Alex trying to deal with the sudden changes in her life, and the fledgling relationship between her and Nate. It’s slow developing, and frustrating at times, but they get there…
“I thought we were done.” …
“We’ll never be done.”
I was floored by the events at the end of the book, and there is a massive cliffy, so I’m going straight on to the next one.
4 stars… and great potential for the rest of the series.
Alex is a great character. She is very relatable, and I felt an instant connection with her. We first meet her when she is walking home with her best friend from a big night out. She is attacked in the woods, and wakes up days later in a strange bed with a hot guy watching over her, and no idea how she got there.
Our hero, Nathan, explains to her that he saved her after she was attacked and bitten by a Vârcolac – a vampire / werewolf hybrid. And more to the point, she has now become a Vârcolac herself, and is the only female to have ever survived the transition. Knowing that she would be abused and used as a breeding machine if she were ever discovered by the Vârcolac race, and unable to return to her human life, she is taken in by Nathan’s family – his Dad, Jack, and younger brother, Sol – a shifter family who live on a remote farm.
A big part of this book is Alex struggling with what she has become, and trying to deal with the crushing guilt of all that she has left behind. The other major focus is the chemistry between her and Nathan. Damn!
Nathan is an interesting hero. Broody and mysterious, he is scruffily hot (of course) but he can also be arrogant and callous, with a no nonsense attitude. After nursing Alex back to health, Nathan barely interacts with her unless he absolutely has to. She thinks he views her as a freak of nature, and tries to stay out of his way. But she slowly learns more about him, and discovers that he is a complex man, with some serious demons in his past. When she finally calls him out on being an “arse”, he stops being such a bastard to her, and things begin to change.
“I’ve gone from intensely disliking the guy, to wanting to rip off his clothes in a matter of days.”
The chemistry between these two zings from the very beginning, but when Alex suddenly starts to pay attention to the brooding hot guy, and his interest becomes clear, the UST ramps up to sizzling.
“You annoy the crap out of me!” I yell back.
He’s behind me now. Hooking my arm, he swings me around to face him, pulling me close. “You know what?” His face is angry but his eyes hold a lot of depth. “You annoy the crap out of me too but it still doesn't stop me from wanting to do this."
Then he takes my face in his hands and kisses me.
Seriously - I squeed out loud when that happened. But just as they are getting their shit together, a devastating betrayal, and the sudden (and badly timed) appearance of the bad guys brings Alex and Nathan’s worlds crashing down around them.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of emotion, a few ‘OMG’ moments, and some thrills, but it was also really funny - I wasn’t expecting it to be as funny as it was, and I was laughing out loud a number of times at Alex’s inner monologue.
"How Nathan doesn't know I fancy him is beyond me. I may as well walk around with a sandwich board, saying 'I heart Nathan', ringing a bell"
The PNR element is there, but it is minor (not a lot of ‘fang and fur’ action), with most of the action focussed around Alex trying to deal with the sudden changes in her life, and the fledgling relationship between her and Nate. It’s slow developing, and frustrating at times, but they get there…
“I thought we were done.” …
“We’ll never be done.”
I was floored by the events at the end of the book, and there is a massive cliffy, so I’m going straight on to the next one.
4 stars… and great potential for the rest of the series.
March 30, 2017
Rated 4.0 "Be careful of the woods" Stars
First off, it just seemed strange to read a PNR by Samantha Towle. However, she did a bang-up job of it. I've enjoyed a few of her books, but none were otherworldly.
Our heroine, Alex (cheerful, resilient, loyal, funny), and her BFF get attacked on the way home from clubbing, were bitten in the gut (yuk), were bleeding out and left for dead. Here's the thing though, it's not by a Vampire! The creature shares a few characteristics, but nope, very different. She's rescued (unknowingly) by the Hero (heroic, brooding, serious, gorgeous) and his brother (awesome), who are actually Shifters. And well, that's where I'm gonna stop and say, "Let the adventures begin"! Quite intense at times.
The only reason I didn't give the book a 4.5, is cuz of the CLIFFHANGER! I just abhor them. Made me cry, and cuss, and swear, and sob some more! I wasn't even gonna read book 02 cuz of it (I will though, ha)
And yesss, my lustful ladies, there are a few deliciously sexy HOT times. Oh Yeah!
Sooo, it's a pretty good PNR, if ya swing that way! Don't say that I didn't warn ya about that damn Cliffy though, it's a killer.
First off, it just seemed strange to read a PNR by Samantha Towle. However, she did a bang-up job of it. I've enjoyed a few of her books, but none were otherworldly.
Our heroine, Alex (cheerful, resilient, loyal, funny), and her BFF get attacked on the way home from clubbing, were bitten in the gut (yuk), were bleeding out and left for dead. Here's the thing though, it's not by a Vampire! The creature shares a few characteristics, but nope, very different. She's rescued (unknowingly) by the Hero (heroic, brooding, serious, gorgeous) and his brother (awesome), who are actually Shifters. And well, that's where I'm gonna stop and say, "Let the adventures begin"! Quite intense at times.
The only reason I didn't give the book a 4.5, is cuz of the CLIFFHANGER! I just abhor them. Made me cry, and cuss, and swear, and sob some more! I wasn't even gonna read book 02 cuz of it (I will though, ha)
And yesss, my lustful ladies, there are a few deliciously sexy HOT times. Oh Yeah!
Sooo, it's a pretty good PNR, if ya swing that way! Don't say that I didn't warn ya about that damn Cliffy though, it's a killer.
May 22, 2012
well hello there all let me tell u about the book that saved me from emotions book funk lol
ok so just b4 starting FIRST BITTEN by SAMANTHA TOWLE i had just finished a book that totally FREAKED MY SHIT OUT !!!!!lol i was suffering from that after book buzz & i couldnt get past it ......untill i picked up First bitten :) it was exactly what the Dr ordered .
I luv a good paranormal to totally take me away from reality . anything goes with a PRN but they can seem all a little alike with the general theme ....that is not the case here . Sammantha has come up with a nice twist on the good old werewolf / vampire story . & owwwww she smacks u in the face with a great scare , a sexy hero , a funny lovable BFF , a cheating ex scumbag boyfriend , a heatbreaking loss.........oh & a hot pair of Jimmy Choo's all in the 1st few chapters of this book ........ummm awesome , right !!!
U suffer with the heroine (Alex) as she experiences the ex scumbag , ruined Jimmy choo's & to top of a not-so-great day, a life theatening attack that changes her life 4 ever .u can imagine what this would do to a girl !!!
u ride this wave with Alex .Samantha takes u thru Alex coming to terms with her new reality . this is something Samantha did extreamly well !! i felt like i knew Alex soooo well , i understood her bcoz as readers after the dramatic start to this story u are then given almost a reprieve , i was lulled into a sense of comfort . i relaxed into the story which gave me a chance to just get to know & understand alex .....& of course the lipsmacking , hot as shit , alpha bad boy Nathan that was Alex savour . Now Alex (as well as being totally freaking hot ) is brooding & complicated & to be honest i didnt know if i wanted to luv or hate him . His treatment of Alex is not ....ummm....nice :)
With this lull in the story u are left wondering What is going to happen ??? What about all the outside threats that are luming in the back ground ?? ..............then just when ur all cumfy in ur little bubble ....BAMMMM !!!!! the shit hits the fan & u are on the edge of ur seat !!! i was so anxious & hoping for an outcome that i didnt know if i would get !!! ...aaahhhh !!! :) it was awesome !!!! lol
the 1st book in a new series is always a tricky 1 for an author i think . they have to set up the story , introduce & indear u to the characters & have enough exciting drama to keep us wanting more . but mayb the most important thing that is needed is a great ending ......& OMFG SAMANTHA TOWLE ........U NAILED IT MATE !!!!!
im sooo glad i read this now with the next book in the series due out next week coz after that great ending i think i would of gone nuts waiting :)
well done SAM u totally ROCKED my shit babe lol
ok untill next time this is me signing out in true sali form
ROCK ON BITCHES !!!........now get off GR & go buy this book !!!!!!
oh & btw my girl Jenny & i did a tandem read on this 1 so feel free to cut n past this review my mama bear coz i know u & i felt exactly the same about this book & we have talked about nathan & his awesome "bits" in detail lol
QUOTE....Samantha Towle , first bitten
'I Am Not There' by Mary Elizabeth frye
"do not stand at my grave and weep " His voice is as still as a break in the breeze. "I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die."
ok so just b4 starting FIRST BITTEN by SAMANTHA TOWLE i had just finished a book that totally FREAKED MY SHIT OUT !!!!!lol i was suffering from that after book buzz & i couldnt get past it ......untill i picked up First bitten :) it was exactly what the Dr ordered .
I luv a good paranormal to totally take me away from reality . anything goes with a PRN but they can seem all a little alike with the general theme ....that is not the case here . Sammantha has come up with a nice twist on the good old werewolf / vampire story . & owwwww she smacks u in the face with a great scare , a sexy hero , a funny lovable BFF , a cheating ex scumbag boyfriend , a heatbreaking loss.........oh & a hot pair of Jimmy Choo's all in the 1st few chapters of this book ........ummm awesome , right !!!
U suffer with the heroine (Alex) as she experiences the ex scumbag , ruined Jimmy choo's & to top of a not-so-great day, a life theatening attack that changes her life 4 ever .u can imagine what this would do to a girl !!!
u ride this wave with Alex .Samantha takes u thru Alex coming to terms with her new reality . this is something Samantha did extreamly well !! i felt like i knew Alex soooo well , i understood her bcoz as readers after the dramatic start to this story u are then given almost a reprieve , i was lulled into a sense of comfort . i relaxed into the story which gave me a chance to just get to know & understand alex .....& of course the lipsmacking , hot as shit , alpha bad boy Nathan that was Alex savour . Now Alex (as well as being totally freaking hot ) is brooding & complicated & to be honest i didnt know if i wanted to luv or hate him . His treatment of Alex is not ....ummm....nice :)
With this lull in the story u are left wondering What is going to happen ??? What about all the outside threats that are luming in the back ground ?? ..............then just when ur all cumfy in ur little bubble ....BAMMMM !!!!! the shit hits the fan & u are on the edge of ur seat !!! i was so anxious & hoping for an outcome that i didnt know if i would get !!! ...aaahhhh !!! :) it was awesome !!!! lol
the 1st book in a new series is always a tricky 1 for an author i think . they have to set up the story , introduce & indear u to the characters & have enough exciting drama to keep us wanting more . but mayb the most important thing that is needed is a great ending ......& OMFG SAMANTHA TOWLE ........U NAILED IT MATE !!!!!
im sooo glad i read this now with the next book in the series due out next week coz after that great ending i think i would of gone nuts waiting :)
well done SAM u totally ROCKED my shit babe lol
ok untill next time this is me signing out in true sali form
ROCK ON BITCHES !!!........now get off GR & go buy this book !!!!!!
oh & btw my girl Jenny & i did a tandem read on this 1 so feel free to cut n past this review my mama bear coz i know u & i felt exactly the same about this book & we have talked about nathan & his awesome "bits" in detail lol
QUOTE....Samantha Towle , first bitten
'I Am Not There' by Mary Elizabeth frye
"do not stand at my grave and weep " His voice is as still as a break in the breeze. "I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die."
May 21, 2012
Ok, so my friend Sali and I tandem read this book and, as we discussed how we would review it, she said she'd write it and I could steal bits because we pretty much had the same thoughts.
So....my thoughts mirror Sali's - though she says it so much better than I can!!!
First off, this book came along at a great time. We both needed something that would get us out of the book funk we were feeling after finishing a particularly mind f**k book. We had that post book buzz feeling and needed something stat! and luckily this one fit the bill.
I have to say, I haven't been into paranormal for a while - I've pretty much steered clear of it since discovering that I like contemporary books better.
This book had such a good twist on the werewolf/vampire theme that it instantly grabbed me - it had everything to keep a story going....you know....the scare, sexy hero, funny bff, cheating scumbag boyfriend and and heartbreaking loss - and that was just the beginning.
You feel for Alex (the heroine) as she comes to terms with her new reality and the author portrayed her angst really well. The book did go into a bit of a lull in the middle but this was done for a reason, as it gave us a chance to explore Alex and hot as hell, brooding alpha Nathan. He was very hot and cold and at times I wanted to slap him, but realised he was going through his own torture so I let him off the hook - only just mind you, because sometimes his treatment of Alex wasn't the best. During this time you're left wondering what's going to happen and then it hits you and you're hooked!
I was on the edge of my seat at times and the author definitely puts you through your paces, wondering what's coming next and inserting a couple of good twists that had me texting Sali and saying "I didn't see that coming" which is always a good thing!
Being the first book in a trilogy, this one is setting up the background to the stories to follow and more introducing us to the characters etc which is always tricky but the authors really pulls this off and keeps the story interesting. I think she nailed it~!
This book has definitely left me hanging out for the next one which, thankfully is out next week - I don't think I could have waited any longer after the ending this one left us with.
A great read and it came at just the right time.
Thanks for tandem read Sali baby! It was fun!
So....my thoughts mirror Sali's - though she says it so much better than I can!!!
First off, this book came along at a great time. We both needed something that would get us out of the book funk we were feeling after finishing a particularly mind f**k book. We had that post book buzz feeling and needed something stat! and luckily this one fit the bill.
I have to say, I haven't been into paranormal for a while - I've pretty much steered clear of it since discovering that I like contemporary books better.
This book had such a good twist on the werewolf/vampire theme that it instantly grabbed me - it had everything to keep a story going....you know....the scare, sexy hero, funny bff, cheating scumbag boyfriend and and heartbreaking loss - and that was just the beginning.
You feel for Alex (the heroine) as she comes to terms with her new reality and the author portrayed her angst really well. The book did go into a bit of a lull in the middle but this was done for a reason, as it gave us a chance to explore Alex and hot as hell, brooding alpha Nathan. He was very hot and cold and at times I wanted to slap him, but realised he was going through his own torture so I let him off the hook - only just mind you, because sometimes his treatment of Alex wasn't the best. During this time you're left wondering what's going to happen and then it hits you and you're hooked!
I was on the edge of my seat at times and the author definitely puts you through your paces, wondering what's coming next and inserting a couple of good twists that had me texting Sali and saying "I didn't see that coming" which is always a good thing!
Being the first book in a trilogy, this one is setting up the background to the stories to follow and more introducing us to the characters etc which is always tricky but the authors really pulls this off and keeps the story interesting. I think she nailed it~!
This book has definitely left me hanging out for the next one which, thankfully is out next week - I don't think I could have waited any longer after the ending this one left us with.
A great read and it came at just the right time.
Thanks for tandem read Sali baby! It was fun!
April 21, 2012
SOOOOOOOO happy I stumbled upon this book on Amazon it was AMAZING!!! I absolutely LOVED this book. I would recommend it to everyone. The story was so amazingly written! I could feel everything so clearly that the main character was going through. It so hard to put into words just how much I really loved this book, it was definitely a book that I will read again and will be thinking about for a while. I fell in love with the characters, there depth was unbelievable. I can't wait for book 2. Samantha Towle is definitely one of the best authors I have come across!!
May 9, 2012
My Thoughts:
To be honest, I requested a free copy from Samantha Towle on Facebook in exchange for an honest review because I LOVE free books, and based on the cover, I was expecting to read another Twilight-esque vampire novel. Boy, was I surprised!
Samantha creates a unique world of vampires, werewolves, and shape shifters that I hadn’t expected. Add the fact that the story is set in England, where Samantha lives, and you have a wonderfully fresh setting and voice on the paranormal romance scene, especially for an American reader like myself.
This book was also notably different from Twilight and the other myriad of teen paranormal books out there in that this is written from an adult’s perspective. The main character, Alex (short for Alexandra), is about 29 years old, and being 27 myself, Samantha makes Alex very easy to relate to for someone who’s out of their teens. She brings in a whole new level of feelings and thoughts, coupled with more mature issues like marriage, children, jobs, etc.
Alex has just found out her scumbag boyfriend cheated on her -- again. Her best friend Carrie, who she’s known for 15 years since the first day of freshman year of high school (I’m making an assumption here based on the translation of the British “senior school”) takes her out to forget about Eddie. That night changes both girls’ lives forever.
I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll move on to the meat of the story. Alex’s life is saved by a mysterious hunk named Nathan Hargreaves. He has a sexy, rural English accent, dirty blonde hair that falls into his eyes, and a motorcycle, as quoted below.
“I look past him and see waiting on the other side of the garden fence the red Ducati that lives in the barn. So, it is his bike. That makes him even sexier, if possible. Crap.”
So take note ladies, there’s a new heartbreaker on the fiction scene!
Alex is a shape shifter and he helps Alex adjust to her new life. Unfortunately for Alex, she wasn’t meant to survive, and now there’s a group of really bad werewolf/vampire hybrids called Vârcolacs looking for her. As if Alex didn’t have enough to adjust to, Nathan is so irresistible despite his abrasiveness, and Alex begins to have feelings for him.
I ended up enjoying First Bitten much more than I anticipated, and always love when I’m surprised by a book. I was completely sucked in to the fictional world that Samantha created and was pleased that not only is this story a fresh take on the vampire/werewolf tale, but that the characters have a subtle depth to them. There are a few grammatical hiccups, and some of these I admit may be due to differences in syntax and grammar from across the pond (I’ll ask Sam about those few excerpts and post the response later). Sam’s writing flows easily and I ended up finishing the book in about 14 hours, despite working out, showering, teaching for 7 hours, and making dinner.
My biggest complaint about this book is also my favorite thing about it -- the suspense! Samantha has some of the best cliffhangers in her writing, and not just at the end of chapters (reminiscent of the TV show 24), but also within the chapters as well. She also draws out the tension in certain scenes throughout the novel, which was most evident to me in this quote from Alex’s point of view.
“He takes a step toward me, towering over me, the toes of his boots nearly flush with my trainers, leaving a veil of air between us.”
Along with the cliffhangers, suspense, and tense moments that are skillfully woven throughout the story, there are also funny moments that made me laugh out loud. This was a wonderful story with characters that are easy to relate to, and I loved that they are young adults, as opposed to the teens that populate many paranormal romance books today. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy teen and YA fiction like no other, and practically live in that section at the bookstore where I work, but it’s nice to have a main character that those of us in our 20’s and 30’s can relate to. This was the beginning of Alex’s story, but as Sam writes,
“This just gets bloody better and better.”
I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, and I highly recommend that you read this exciting book to get in on the story at the beginning, because I can see this series getting HUGE.
“And this is the exact moment I know everything has changed between us forever. We’ll never recover from this.”
Thank you Samantha Towle, for inviting me into your wonderful world, and for giving me as many more books to read as you can write in this series. I definitely will not recover from this series!
Favorite Quotes:
“The last thing I hear is screaming. An ear-piercing scream. And I can’t tell if it’s coming from Carrie or me.”
“I’m going to have to live with that knowledge for the rest of my existence. Because existing is all I’m doing now. What I’m left with isn’t anything resembling a life. And it’s nothing less than I deserve.”
“I think I’d die of shock if he came in and said, ‘Hi Alex, how are you doing?’ Actually, me dying of shock wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Maybe I should ask him to try it.”
“Wrapping my arms around myself, I look up at the sky. There’s a star which has managed to break through the darkness, lighting up its small part of the sky. One single solitary star. And for a moment, I wonder if the world is actually trying to tell me something.”
“So instead, I sit here, torturing myself, desperately trying to hold onto my dignity, as I once again attempt to read my magazine. But for a long time all I can manage to do is read the same sentence over and over.”
P.S. If the review leaves you hungering for more, check out the first chapter FREE on Samantha’s blog! Be warned, she is a cliffhanger queen!!! ☺
To be honest, I requested a free copy from Samantha Towle on Facebook in exchange for an honest review because I LOVE free books, and based on the cover, I was expecting to read another Twilight-esque vampire novel. Boy, was I surprised!
Samantha creates a unique world of vampires, werewolves, and shape shifters that I hadn’t expected. Add the fact that the story is set in England, where Samantha lives, and you have a wonderfully fresh setting and voice on the paranormal romance scene, especially for an American reader like myself.
This book was also notably different from Twilight and the other myriad of teen paranormal books out there in that this is written from an adult’s perspective. The main character, Alex (short for Alexandra), is about 29 years old, and being 27 myself, Samantha makes Alex very easy to relate to for someone who’s out of their teens. She brings in a whole new level of feelings and thoughts, coupled with more mature issues like marriage, children, jobs, etc.
Alex has just found out her scumbag boyfriend cheated on her -- again. Her best friend Carrie, who she’s known for 15 years since the first day of freshman year of high school (I’m making an assumption here based on the translation of the British “senior school”) takes her out to forget about Eddie. That night changes both girls’ lives forever.
I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll move on to the meat of the story. Alex’s life is saved by a mysterious hunk named Nathan Hargreaves. He has a sexy, rural English accent, dirty blonde hair that falls into his eyes, and a motorcycle, as quoted below.
“I look past him and see waiting on the other side of the garden fence the red Ducati that lives in the barn. So, it is his bike. That makes him even sexier, if possible. Crap.”
So take note ladies, there’s a new heartbreaker on the fiction scene!
Alex is a shape shifter and he helps Alex adjust to her new life. Unfortunately for Alex, she wasn’t meant to survive, and now there’s a group of really bad werewolf/vampire hybrids called Vârcolacs looking for her. As if Alex didn’t have enough to adjust to, Nathan is so irresistible despite his abrasiveness, and Alex begins to have feelings for him.
I ended up enjoying First Bitten much more than I anticipated, and always love when I’m surprised by a book. I was completely sucked in to the fictional world that Samantha created and was pleased that not only is this story a fresh take on the vampire/werewolf tale, but that the characters have a subtle depth to them. There are a few grammatical hiccups, and some of these I admit may be due to differences in syntax and grammar from across the pond (I’ll ask Sam about those few excerpts and post the response later). Sam’s writing flows easily and I ended up finishing the book in about 14 hours, despite working out, showering, teaching for 7 hours, and making dinner.
My biggest complaint about this book is also my favorite thing about it -- the suspense! Samantha has some of the best cliffhangers in her writing, and not just at the end of chapters (reminiscent of the TV show 24), but also within the chapters as well. She also draws out the tension in certain scenes throughout the novel, which was most evident to me in this quote from Alex’s point of view.
“He takes a step toward me, towering over me, the toes of his boots nearly flush with my trainers, leaving a veil of air between us.”
Along with the cliffhangers, suspense, and tense moments that are skillfully woven throughout the story, there are also funny moments that made me laugh out loud. This was a wonderful story with characters that are easy to relate to, and I loved that they are young adults, as opposed to the teens that populate many paranormal romance books today. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy teen and YA fiction like no other, and practically live in that section at the bookstore where I work, but it’s nice to have a main character that those of us in our 20’s and 30’s can relate to. This was the beginning of Alex’s story, but as Sam writes,
“This just gets bloody better and better.”
I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, and I highly recommend that you read this exciting book to get in on the story at the beginning, because I can see this series getting HUGE.
“And this is the exact moment I know everything has changed between us forever. We’ll never recover from this.”
Thank you Samantha Towle, for inviting me into your wonderful world, and for giving me as many more books to read as you can write in this series. I definitely will not recover from this series!
Favorite Quotes:
“The last thing I hear is screaming. An ear-piercing scream. And I can’t tell if it’s coming from Carrie or me.”
“I’m going to have to live with that knowledge for the rest of my existence. Because existing is all I’m doing now. What I’m left with isn’t anything resembling a life. And it’s nothing less than I deserve.”
“I think I’d die of shock if he came in and said, ‘Hi Alex, how are you doing?’ Actually, me dying of shock wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Maybe I should ask him to try it.”
“Wrapping my arms around myself, I look up at the sky. There’s a star which has managed to break through the darkness, lighting up its small part of the sky. One single solitary star. And for a moment, I wonder if the world is actually trying to tell me something.”
“So instead, I sit here, torturing myself, desperately trying to hold onto my dignity, as I once again attempt to read my magazine. But for a long time all I can manage to do is read the same sentence over and over.”
P.S. If the review leaves you hungering for more, check out the first chapter FREE on Samantha’s blog! Be warned, she is a cliffhanger queen!!! ☺
September 7, 2021
There were a couple scenes where I laughed, but overall, this was an awful story. I have loved Towle’s other books, like The Mighty Storm, but this read like a first draft of her first novel. (maybe it was)
If you like a wimpy damsel in distress, this is your book. The h did nothing to help herself or the situation she was in. The back and forth inside her head was exhausting.
The H was a decent character, a complete grump with a heart of gold.
The ending made zero sense. What was with that strangely rushed intimate scene and the out-of-the-blue love declarations? I have no desire to trudge through book two.
If you like a wimpy damsel in distress, this is your book. The h did nothing to help herself or the situation she was in. The back and forth inside her head was exhausting.
The H was a decent character, a complete grump with a heart of gold.
The ending made zero sense. What was with that strangely rushed intimate scene and the out-of-the-blue love declarations? I have no desire to trudge through book two.
October 11, 2020
2.5/5.0
If one has read recent books from Ms. Towle, it is very apparent this was written early in her career. There really isn’t a lot going on overall in this story. There are a few exciting moments at the first and last but the middle just putters. There is also no depth at all to the supposedly growing relationship between Alex and Nathan and that sex scene at the end... huh? Where did that come from? Totally weird placement!
This book ends on a huge cliffhanger, as well. SOPE.... I think I’ll just go back to reading her later books and series. Now, those are top-notch!
If one has read recent books from Ms. Towle, it is very apparent this was written early in her career. There really isn’t a lot going on overall in this story. There are a few exciting moments at the first and last but the middle just putters. There is also no depth at all to the supposedly growing relationship between Alex and Nathan and that sex scene at the end... huh? Where did that come from? Totally weird placement!
This book ends on a huge cliffhanger, as well. SOPE.... I think I’ll just go back to reading her later books and series. Now, those are top-notch!
June 1, 2012
I was recommended this book by a friend, and what a good recommendation indeed! Within the first chapter, I was hooked and wanting to know more. More about the characters, more about their inner demons. Alex and Nathan have such good chemistry. Nathan is one of those characters that you share a love/hate relationship with! You get so frustrated with him sometimes and the things he says; thinking to yourself "Really Nathan? Was that comment necessary??." The wording took some getting used to (since I believe the author is English) but overall a wonderful read!I would certainly recommend this book to anyone :)
May 4, 2012
OMG!!! I absolutely loved this book!!!! I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I liked the way that the relationship developed between Alex and Nate. My heart hurt for all that Alex had to go through and what she had to give up in the end to keep those that she loved safe. It was one of those books that you're like NNNNOOOOOO!!!!! IM NOT READY FOR IT TO BE OVER YET!!! when it ends. I am looking forward to more books in this series and I recommend this to everyone. Samantha you are an amazing writer!!!
August 24, 2012
As much as I didn't like the first chapter of this book once I got past that I really enjoyed this book. Though I didn't like Nathan so much at first he kinda grew on me... Now to read the next one ...
May 6, 2012
I have read alot of paranormal romance by various authors, I love it!!! However, it's one og those genre's where you can often find that one book bleeds into another and the element of surprise and that "something new" is lacking. Well all I have to say to that is if you agree you should read First Bitten (book one of a series).
This is my first Samantha Towle book and I LOVED it, she had me hooked right from the start. It's one of those books that you wish you had the time to sit and read in one go because you need to know!! I was a bit worried at first with it being set in the UK because it could so easily have gone the other way for me, I knew I'd be more critical but this author's writing immediately got rid of those worries because for want of a better word her writing is effortless and it could be set anywhere, it's that good.
First Bitten is a contemporary paranormal romance which is so refreshing because it's real, believable, and we live in this world (and yeah I mean with the shifters, vampires and werewolves - somewhere there's an alarm going off and a straight jacket is being prepared for me right now lol..)!! All the characters in this book are human in the sense that they have compassion, they love, they hurt, they are not perfect and they FEEL. Because they are "so real" the emotions felt by the characters mirror the ones felt by the reader..and yes I felt every emotion, I cried, laughed, got mad and... *sigh*...swooned!!
I don't want to spoil too much.....
This journey begins when Alex and her friend Carrie are walking home slightly worse for wear from a night out. Alex has a phone call from her cheating ex Eddie and throws her phone away in anger. Whilst the girls are looking for the phone Alex is bitten by a Varcolac (which we later find out is a vampire-werewolf hybrid) and Carrie.... :( !!!
So this is where we meet Nathan (*sigh*... gorgeous, alpha hot but frustrating and closed off...just how I like them..lol!!!!) who finds her, brings her home to his shifter family and nurses her back to health and offers her his and his father Jack and brother Sol's protection.
A female bitten by a Varcolac does not normally survive so Alex becomes a valuable commodity for the strength and the survival of that race so Nathan's family know they must keep her hidden while they prepare her for her "new life". Alex has to very quickly come to terms with what has happened and grieve the loss of her life as she knew it.
There are so many twists and turns it will literally keep you on the edge of your seat but it's not so fast paced for a first book that you don't know what is going on and feel confused!
The sexual tension between Nathan and Alex is HOT and the chapter from Nathan's pov was fab. I love when I get to hear the voice of not just our heroine but our hero too!! I hope there is more of that in book 2 because Nathan is still a bit of a mystery, granted a hot mystery, but he doesn't give too much away and I want to fix him!!
I have to say though..the ending, the cliffhanger WHY???!!! I am no good with them..in fact I think I hate them....I NEED book 2 like right now!!!
This is my first Samantha Towle book and I LOVED it, she had me hooked right from the start. It's one of those books that you wish you had the time to sit and read in one go because you need to know!! I was a bit worried at first with it being set in the UK because it could so easily have gone the other way for me, I knew I'd be more critical but this author's writing immediately got rid of those worries because for want of a better word her writing is effortless and it could be set anywhere, it's that good.
First Bitten is a contemporary paranormal romance which is so refreshing because it's real, believable, and we live in this world (and yeah I mean with the shifters, vampires and werewolves - somewhere there's an alarm going off and a straight jacket is being prepared for me right now lol..)!! All the characters in this book are human in the sense that they have compassion, they love, they hurt, they are not perfect and they FEEL. Because they are "so real" the emotions felt by the characters mirror the ones felt by the reader..and yes I felt every emotion, I cried, laughed, got mad and... *sigh*...swooned!!
I don't want to spoil too much.....
This journey begins when Alex and her friend Carrie are walking home slightly worse for wear from a night out. Alex has a phone call from her cheating ex Eddie and throws her phone away in anger. Whilst the girls are looking for the phone Alex is bitten by a Varcolac (which we later find out is a vampire-werewolf hybrid) and Carrie.... :( !!!
So this is where we meet Nathan (*sigh*... gorgeous, alpha hot but frustrating and closed off...just how I like them..lol!!!!) who finds her, brings her home to his shifter family and nurses her back to health and offers her his and his father Jack and brother Sol's protection.
A female bitten by a Varcolac does not normally survive so Alex becomes a valuable commodity for the strength and the survival of that race so Nathan's family know they must keep her hidden while they prepare her for her "new life". Alex has to very quickly come to terms with what has happened and grieve the loss of her life as she knew it.
There are so many twists and turns it will literally keep you on the edge of your seat but it's not so fast paced for a first book that you don't know what is going on and feel confused!
The sexual tension between Nathan and Alex is HOT and the chapter from Nathan's pov was fab. I love when I get to hear the voice of not just our heroine but our hero too!! I hope there is more of that in book 2 because Nathan is still a bit of a mystery, granted a hot mystery, but he doesn't give too much away and I want to fix him!!
I have to say though..the ending, the cliffhanger WHY???!!! I am no good with them..in fact I think I hate them....I NEED book 2 like right now!!!
January 30, 2012
MY REVIEW
I liked the cover and initially thought oh its going to be a vampire novel, Oh Wow! I knew it would be good as I read Samantha's other book The Bringer and I loved that one. This book was much much more than a vampire story. Alex is bitten by a Várcolac, which is a vampire-werewolf hybrid.....the thing is women don't usually survive.....well....Alex does! Which means that she is very valuable to the Varcolac who obviously wish to reproduce! Alex was "Lucky" to be rescued by the gorgeous *swoon* Nathan. Nathan, his father Jack and younger brother Sol *swoons more for Sol* nurse her back to health and offer her protection.
Alex has lots of things to over come such as the fact her best friend/more like a sister Carrie was killed by the Várcolac , Alex also has to come to terms with the fact she can never return to her family or friends again, as she would put them in danger with the Várcolacs. alex also has to learn to accept certain traits and "talents" she now has such as she has to drink blood......sure its animal blood that the gorgeous Nathan brings her regularly but its still blood! Alex also has improved hearing, sight and strength too. Alex also finds her self attracted to Nathan, even though he seems to resent her presence and at times hate her too, even though he is the one that saved her. Alex also knows that there is something different about Jack, Nathan, and Sol, it turns out that they are shifters.
I really don't want to go into the plot and spoil the book for anyone but I will say that Alex ends up being sold out to the enemy which causes another great loss of life to happen just when she is beginning to believe that she can cope and live with what life has thrown at her.
I picked my kindle up with this book on and put it down for 10 minutes to eat tea, then went to bed later still reading it, I truthfully did not, could not put it down. This book made me gasp in shock, sit on the end of my seat with suspense, tears well up and my heart ache for certain characters and what happens to them. The book is wonderfully written you can imagine the scenery as well as the gorgeous shape-shifter family too *phwoar*
I felt these books were easily, easily on a par if not better than the Women of The Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong, The Shifter Series by Rachel Vincent, and The Resurrection Series by Dee Tenorio too.
So did I enjoy it? Yes Would I read more in the series? Oh Yes! can't wait!! Would I recommend them? Definitely. Must, Must read!
I liked the cover and initially thought oh its going to be a vampire novel, Oh Wow! I knew it would be good as I read Samantha's other book The Bringer and I loved that one. This book was much much more than a vampire story. Alex is bitten by a Várcolac, which is a vampire-werewolf hybrid.....the thing is women don't usually survive.....well....Alex does! Which means that she is very valuable to the Varcolac who obviously wish to reproduce! Alex was "Lucky" to be rescued by the gorgeous *swoon* Nathan. Nathan, his father Jack and younger brother Sol *swoons more for Sol* nurse her back to health and offer her protection.
Alex has lots of things to over come such as the fact her best friend/more like a sister Carrie was killed by the Várcolac , Alex also has to come to terms with the fact she can never return to her family or friends again, as she would put them in danger with the Várcolacs. alex also has to learn to accept certain traits and "talents" she now has such as she has to drink blood......sure its animal blood that the gorgeous Nathan brings her regularly but its still blood! Alex also has improved hearing, sight and strength too. Alex also finds her self attracted to Nathan, even though he seems to resent her presence and at times hate her too, even though he is the one that saved her. Alex also knows that there is something different about Jack, Nathan, and Sol, it turns out that they are shifters.
I really don't want to go into the plot and spoil the book for anyone but I will say that Alex ends up being sold out to the enemy which causes another great loss of life to happen just when she is beginning to believe that she can cope and live with what life has thrown at her.
I picked my kindle up with this book on and put it down for 10 minutes to eat tea, then went to bed later still reading it, I truthfully did not, could not put it down. This book made me gasp in shock, sit on the end of my seat with suspense, tears well up and my heart ache for certain characters and what happens to them. The book is wonderfully written you can imagine the scenery as well as the gorgeous shape-shifter family too *phwoar*
I felt these books were easily, easily on a par if not better than the Women of The Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong, The Shifter Series by Rachel Vincent, and The Resurrection Series by Dee Tenorio too.
So did I enjoy it? Yes Would I read more in the series? Oh Yes! can't wait!! Would I recommend them? Definitely. Must, Must read!
October 9, 2012
Dear Samantha Towle, can I just tell you how much I love and adore you as a writer. You do not disappoint. You have a faithful reader in me for life. You give me the stories that have drama and heartache with the whole mystery of love. I know when I sit down and read one of your books, it will not be a waste of my time.
I was nervous when I first picked up First Bitten, but there was no disappointment. I love that the Hero, Nathan, is not perfect and that he has issues, but those issues had nothing to do with a bad sexual history. His attitude brought life to the story and made me question what his motives were for all the things he did for Alex. I mean, he was jerk even towards the end. Chapter 26 and 27 were awesome. Wow, how could we love Nathan and yet read how he makes Alex feel in those chapters??!!!
"No, Be nice to me, Nathan!" he mimics, gesticulating angrily. " Like me, Nathan! Take care of me! Save me from the bastards that killed..." - Nathan.
Those words from Nathan to Alex put a knife in my heart.
And
"Well you don't have any money and it's not like you can go to anyone you know - family, friends, your ex-boyfriend. You're supposed to be dead, remember? But then it's not like you have any family left to go to, is it?" - Nathan. His harsh words to Alex.
Okay, as I am rereading and writing those words for my review, I am in tears. Nathan, Nathan, Nathan...
I was listening to The Killers' "Read My Mind" thinking about Nathan and Alex. I absolutely love that song!
The only bad thing about this book was the cover. That is what made me hesitate to read it. it does not portray the story.
My questions:
- Did I skim through the book? NO
- Did I think about the book when I had to stop reading? Yes. Those damn obligations that had me stop reading in the middle of the book. Did my husband and children really need food on the table??!! :)
- Did I count the minutes until I was able to return to reading the book? YES, I was making every excuse possible as to why I had to go back to my Kindle.
- Will/would I reread this book? Yes
- Did I think about the book after I was finished? Yes and have been thinking about it since I finished 2 days ago.
- Do I recommend this book? YES!!
I was nervous when I first picked up First Bitten, but there was no disappointment. I love that the Hero, Nathan, is not perfect and that he has issues, but those issues had nothing to do with a bad sexual history. His attitude brought life to the story and made me question what his motives were for all the things he did for Alex. I mean, he was jerk even towards the end. Chapter 26 and 27 were awesome. Wow, how could we love Nathan and yet read how he makes Alex feel in those chapters??!!!
"No, Be nice to me, Nathan!" he mimics, gesticulating angrily. " Like me, Nathan! Take care of me! Save me from the bastards that killed..." - Nathan.
Those words from Nathan to Alex put a knife in my heart.
And
"Well you don't have any money and it's not like you can go to anyone you know - family, friends, your ex-boyfriend. You're supposed to be dead, remember? But then it's not like you have any family left to go to, is it?" - Nathan. His harsh words to Alex.
Okay, as I am rereading and writing those words for my review, I am in tears. Nathan, Nathan, Nathan...
I was listening to The Killers' "Read My Mind" thinking about Nathan and Alex. I absolutely love that song!
The only bad thing about this book was the cover. That is what made me hesitate to read it. it does not portray the story.
My questions:
- Did I skim through the book? NO
- Did I think about the book when I had to stop reading? Yes. Those damn obligations that had me stop reading in the middle of the book. Did my husband and children really need food on the table??!! :)
- Did I count the minutes until I was able to return to reading the book? YES, I was making every excuse possible as to why I had to go back to my Kindle.
- Will/would I reread this book? Yes
- Did I think about the book after I was finished? Yes and have been thinking about it since I finished 2 days ago.
- Do I recommend this book? YES!!
April 7, 2012
I hadn't read a vampire/Werewolf book since... Probably since I read Inheritance last year. Coming back to the genre with First Bitten was... Absolutely worth it.
It's about Alexandra (who likes to be called Alex), a young woman that after leaving her boyfriend and technically watching her best friend die in hands of a vampire/werewolf hybrid becomes said creature herself. She struggles to keep her humanity, while discovering she has feelings for her savior.
Hmmm... You have probably guessed I'm a fan of Samantha Towle's work since I read The Bringer. When she asked me to review this book I didn't think twice about it. I absolutely do not regret it.
Alex's story was one well told. It had the right amount of descriptions for me to get in the story without getting tired in the process. It was also fast paced, enough for one to want to know what was next. It's the kind of books you can't just leave behind. First Bitten is the kind of books that you have to read without stopping: not because of lack of continuum, you just can't stop. Sam's characters are made in a way that you absolutely fall in love with.
Samantha told me she couldn't stop herself from telling Alex's story. Now I realize why.
<3 Loved it!
It's about Alexandra (who likes to be called Alex), a young woman that after leaving her boyfriend and technically watching her best friend die in hands of a vampire/werewolf hybrid becomes said creature herself. She struggles to keep her humanity, while discovering she has feelings for her savior.
Hmmm... You have probably guessed I'm a fan of Samantha Towle's work since I read The Bringer. When she asked me to review this book I didn't think twice about it. I absolutely do not regret it.
Alex's story was one well told. It had the right amount of descriptions for me to get in the story without getting tired in the process. It was also fast paced, enough for one to want to know what was next. It's the kind of books you can't just leave behind. First Bitten is the kind of books that you have to read without stopping: not because of lack of continuum, you just can't stop. Sam's characters are made in a way that you absolutely fall in love with.
Samantha told me she couldn't stop herself from telling Alex's story. Now I realize why.
<3 Loved it!
September 14, 2012
I had to immediately try another of Samantha Towle's books after enjoying the last one so much. It didn't disappoint.
I liked this book a lot. I wouldn't say I loved it but it is still a great read. I really liked Alex but at times I felt like I wanted her to be a tad more....something. She spent the majority of the book feeling sorry for herself and clinging to Nate and his family even knowing she was putting them in danger. MaybeI'm just so used to strong, independent, kick @ss heroines in PNR, but she came off as a little bit too weak to me. I mean come on. I know her whole life changed in the blink of an eye and she needed to adjust to that, but did it really have to take the whole book? Despite this, I still thought the characters were very interesting and relationship between Alex and Nate captivating. There is a plot twist toward the end that surprised me a little and Alex finally stepped up to the plate and did something I had wantedher to do for most of the book. So I will definitely be reading book 2 to see how she evolves.
I liked this book a lot. I wouldn't say I loved it but it is still a great read. I really liked Alex but at times I felt like I wanted her to be a tad more....something. She spent the majority of the book feeling sorry for herself and clinging to Nate and his family even knowing she was putting them in danger. MaybeI'm just so used to strong, independent, kick @ss heroines in PNR, but she came off as a little bit too weak to me. I mean come on. I know her whole life changed in the blink of an eye and she needed to adjust to that, but did it really have to take the whole book? Despite this, I still thought the characters were very interesting and relationship between Alex and Nate captivating. There is a plot twist toward the end that surprised me a little and Alex finally stepped up to the plate and did something I had wantedher to do for most of the book. So I will definitely be reading book 2 to see how she evolves.
May 6, 2012
I read this book in one sitting. It was that different and interesting. The characters are like anyone in your life there are things you like and things you don't about each one. The book started with a bang slowed down a bit but the good part of this is you could not guess where it was going. Not everyone in the family was likeable but that is the way it is in reality. I read both of her books and it seems to be the way she writes so I say for less than a dollar you cannot go wrong with this book. It is the first book of a series so that must also be taken into account, series starter books are rarely as good as the rest of the series. However, that being said my point is if this one is 4 stars then the next one should be 5 stars really a good read and great new author to be getting interested in, also read the Bringer it is great also. I am really looking forward to the next book and am praying it is soon.
February 24, 2012
The characters are believable - moody, selfish, stubborn, confused...you name it and there's at least one character that's going through it.
The author does a good job of showing how alone, conflicted, upset, etc the main character (Alex) is. The entire book is filled with narration, so be prepared for a LOT of talking. Most of the time it didn't bother me, but towards the end I was a bit frustrated at the lack of action (in more ways than one, coughcough).
I think the most exciting part of the book happens in the last 15%, especially the last few pages! I suppose this is a good lead into the rest of the series, though.
Definitely recommend this for people into vampires and shapeshifters, but this is not your typical UF story. Lots of romantic tension, no (or very little?) magic, and overall a very slow moving plot (until, as I mention above, the very end).
The author does a good job of showing how alone, conflicted, upset, etc the main character (Alex) is. The entire book is filled with narration, so be prepared for a LOT of talking. Most of the time it didn't bother me, but towards the end I was a bit frustrated at the lack of action (in more ways than one, coughcough).
I think the most exciting part of the book happens in the last 15%, especially the last few pages! I suppose this is a good lead into the rest of the series, though.
Definitely recommend this for people into vampires and shapeshifters, but this is not your typical UF story. Lots of romantic tension, no (or very little?) magic, and overall a very slow moving plot (until, as I mention above, the very end).
April 26, 2012
Apart from the slight over use of the word "bloody" in the first chapter, I thought this one was pretty good =]. I kinda feel like the author was trying to cram in every profanity that she could think of in the first chapter, not that I'm a prude or anything (haa!), but it all just seemed a little OTT.
I liked the love/hate relationship between Alex and Nathan and I did like the ending, even though it was bittersweet (I'm sure we haven’t heard the last of them though). I feel the author held back a bit in this one and was hopefully just giving us a taste of bigger things to come, but fingers crossed in the next book we'll get some more action (like Alex shifting! Oo and some vamps =]). This was a promising start to a new series and I'm eager to discover what's next in store for Alex.
I liked the love/hate relationship between Alex and Nathan and I did like the ending, even though it was bittersweet (I'm sure we haven’t heard the last of them though). I feel the author held back a bit in this one and was hopefully just giving us a taste of bigger things to come, but fingers crossed in the next book we'll get some more action (like Alex shifting! Oo and some vamps =]). This was a promising start to a new series and I'm eager to discover what's next in store for Alex.
October 27, 2012
A woman is attacked by a Vârcolac (a nightmarish vampire-werewolf hybrid) and becomes the first female EVER to survive, making her very much sought after for breeding purposes. She is rescued by a moody shifter and his awesome family, but soon finds she is in BIG trouble in more ways than one!
ANOTHER supernatural twist that had me hooked after about page 15. The story is detailed, dark, and edgy, the characters range from upbeat and loving to brooding, just like 'real' people in a family!
While reading the heroine's POV, you really feel her confusion, pain and sense of loss for her 'normal' life.
ANOTHER supernatural twist that had me hooked after about page 15. The story is detailed, dark, and edgy, the characters range from upbeat and loving to brooding, just like 'real' people in a family!
While reading the heroine's POV, you really feel her confusion, pain and sense of loss for her 'normal' life.
March 20, 2012
I'm ultra-excited to have found such a brilliant new series! First Bitten is Book 1 in The Alexandre Jones Series and I devoured it in a day. I don't want to give anything away, so all I'll say is it has all the elements to make up the perfect urban fantasy: a very real and sympathetic main character, a terrifying supernatural situation and the hottest love interest you could imagine. It's all these things, without being at all predictable and I can't wait for Book 2!
Congratulations, Sam Towle, looks like you've got another page-turning bestseller on your hands.
Congratulations, Sam Towle, looks like you've got another page-turning bestseller on your hands.
August 8, 2012
I read this book in a few hours. I only stopped to eat which means that it is an intruiging book that I can't stop reading. I then downloaded the next one to see what happens next. I think that Alex would be thinking what everyone would be thinking in her position. I know that it is something that I can't wait for others to read so I can talk to them about this book.
December 11, 2012
I know I'm really enjoying a book if I can't put it down, this one got me a good one of those moments where I didn't even watch my favourite programme!! Loved this book, definitely gets my 5/5 stars and then some..Thank god I've got book 2 to carry on with!! If you liked Twilight then all you Twilight fans are going to love this!! This without a lie was better!! Read and prove me wrong!!
February 27, 2012
I was not sure what to expect from this book but was pleasantly surprised. I loved the story and the characters. It kept me interested. Even the cliffhanger at the end was awesome. The author did a great job with this book and I cannot wait for the next one.
September 27, 2012
This book took me awhile to get in to, I thought about putting it down several times in the beginning because I just didn't feel a connection with the characters. However, I stuck with it, and it paid off! I read the second book straight after and can't wait for the third :).
February 21, 2012
I wasn't sure about this book on reading the synopsis but I was surprisingly pleased as I read it - I loved the characters and Nathan especially!
August 11, 2012
As recommended by danni :)
I loved this book could not put it down! Loved the characters! Not your typical vampire/ werewolf style book! Brilliant! :)
I loved this book could not put it down! Loved the characters! Not your typical vampire/ werewolf style book! Brilliant! :)
December 5, 2012
Awesome I likey likey
February 3, 2013
ooh Nathan <3 Great story & characters. Really glad I read this, can't wait for the next one!
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