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The Firsts #4
Darkened Days
Jacob had searched for her for two months. Taken by rogue vampires, Starla had disappeared without a trace. An innocent, sweet girl from a remote Alaskan town, the human friend of a powerful first blood vampire, she had no idea the vampire world existed. Now, a lead sends him to Paris, to a cadre of young vampires that run the city at night, breaking rules and risking the vampire community's sacred covenant for secrecy.When he finds her, she's been changed. She's vampire now. He barely recognizes the angry, oversexed girl as the one he'd met briefly and saved just months earlier. It doesn't help that she turns him on like none of the beautiful experienced vampires he's always preferred.Paris at night is gorgeous, the city of love, a place to make love and be made love to. But not for Jacob, who wants to save this lost girl, and ends up on the wrong side of justice.Jacob and Starla's story starts in southern France and ends in South Africa, as a young newly "made" vampire learns how to accept who and what she is now, to understand what may be the greatest gift of her life. To find out that love can come in the most unlikely ways while life happens regardless of choices made. That sometimes destiny really is written in the stars.This story is beautiful on its own, but continues the series of first blood vampires started in Forbidden Days, also available here on Amazon.com. If you enjoy Starla and Jacob's story, try the other three books in this series to see where it all began.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2013
105 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Quinn
59 books91 followersMy name is Charlie, everyone has a story, and this is mine...
That's how the book Last Best Hope, by author T.C.Butts, introduces Charlie Quinn, happy at last living in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, finally at home in her cabin surrounded by nature's beauty. From her isolated life, she makes her living writing a highly successful vampire romance series, where she proclaims, "So I didn't create timeless canons of literature...I created moments of escapist enjoyment, and in the lives we often trap ourselves, it was as important as any Shakespeare sonnet or Tennyson poem." When fireballs rain down on Denver one early spring night, the world is changed forever.
Author T.C.Butts has brought Charlie Quinn's vampire romance series to life, which has grown deeper and richer with each new volume. It has been a labor of love!
That's how the book Last Best Hope, by author T.C.Butts, introduces Charlie Quinn, happy at last living in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, finally at home in her cabin surrounded by nature's beauty. From her isolated life, she makes her living writing a highly successful vampire romance series, where she proclaims, "So I didn't create timeless canons of literature...I created moments of escapist enjoyment, and in the lives we often trap ourselves, it was as important as any Shakespeare sonnet or Tennyson poem." When fireballs rain down on Denver one early spring night, the world is changed forever.
Author T.C.Butts has brought Charlie Quinn's vampire romance series to life, which has grown deeper and richer with each new volume. It has been a labor of love!
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 16, 2025
Great characters and a terrific plot!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤❤️💜🩵
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☹️😀😋😘😍
The heroine: Starla - she is the young human woman who worked at the café in Alaska with Eillia from Longest Days. They became good friends, though Eillia never told Starla about being a vampire. After Eillia left Alaska and went home to France, Starla decided that she would also leave the frozen north and traveled to France to meet up with Eillia. When she got to the villa, Eillia was out of the country in Bali with her mate Daniel, so Starla returned to her hotel and later that night was in a horrible car accident.
The Hero: Jacob - he lives with Koen, Eillia, Bas and Park. He is a made vampire that is over 200 years old, and he is the head of security for Bas. He was first introduced in Forbidden Days and is a good man. When the cops turn up at the villa, and inform them that there has been an accident and the young woman that was hit by the car may be dying. Jacob is tasked with going to the hospital to help Eillia’s friend by giving her his blood so that she survives.
The story: Jacob gives Starla his blood, thinking that she will now live. He plans to stay with her till she gets better, but he skipped his meal, so he goes to the hospital cafeteria for some food. Vampires need blood to survive, but they also have a very fast metabolism so need a lot of food as well. While he was gone, a cadre of newbie vampires who continually increase their numbers by capturing and turning young tourists, kidnap Starla from her hospital bed and turn her into a vampire. Jacob returns to find out Starla has been taken and he knows it was done by vampires since the nurse had been compelled to forget. He is determined to find Starla no matter what.
I really enjoyed how this story went. I liked the fact that Starla was basically an innocent when she was turned against her will and by the time Jacob finds her, she is very angry about how she is living, the fact that she wasn’t given any choice, and also about how the guys in the cadre use the females for sex. Jacob is very attracted to Starla, but knows that Eillia, who is a first blood vampire is very fond of Starla, so he feels he shouldn’t hook up with Starla. Not only that, but he doesn’t want to use her like the guys in the cadre did.
I also absolutely loved to be a spectator to Starla’s world travels and to hear about the great pyramids in Egypt, the Sphinx, the Karnak Temple in Luxor, ziplining across Victoria Falls in Zambia, and with each place she visited, I Googled the place and got to see the sights with her, though she got to see them at night and most of the pictures in Google are in daylight, so I also had to use my imagination to see it as she and her traveling companion, Henri did. Another first blood named Ahmose was also introduced in this book.
I was afraid, when I started this series, that the entire series would be about Alvin, the vampire who wanted to end all other vampires and his war against the rest of the vampire race. I was glad to see that though he did appear in the last book, that each book has a different conflict. I kind of hate when a series is all about one overarching conflict. I like each book to be different and have the main characters fighting against different opponents with varying issues. I also love the fact that so many of the characters from previous books show up in each new book. And the settings are all different in each of these books, we have gone from California to Canada, to Colorado, to Alaska, to the south of France, to Paris and now to Egypt, Africa and more.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤❤️💜🩵
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☹️😀😋😘😍
The heroine: Starla - she is the young human woman who worked at the café in Alaska with Eillia from Longest Days. They became good friends, though Eillia never told Starla about being a vampire. After Eillia left Alaska and went home to France, Starla decided that she would also leave the frozen north and traveled to France to meet up with Eillia. When she got to the villa, Eillia was out of the country in Bali with her mate Daniel, so Starla returned to her hotel and later that night was in a horrible car accident.
The Hero: Jacob - he lives with Koen, Eillia, Bas and Park. He is a made vampire that is over 200 years old, and he is the head of security for Bas. He was first introduced in Forbidden Days and is a good man. When the cops turn up at the villa, and inform them that there has been an accident and the young woman that was hit by the car may be dying. Jacob is tasked with going to the hospital to help Eillia’s friend by giving her his blood so that she survives.
The story: Jacob gives Starla his blood, thinking that she will now live. He plans to stay with her till she gets better, but he skipped his meal, so he goes to the hospital cafeteria for some food. Vampires need blood to survive, but they also have a very fast metabolism so need a lot of food as well. While he was gone, a cadre of newbie vampires who continually increase their numbers by capturing and turning young tourists, kidnap Starla from her hospital bed and turn her into a vampire. Jacob returns to find out Starla has been taken and he knows it was done by vampires since the nurse had been compelled to forget. He is determined to find Starla no matter what.
I really enjoyed how this story went. I liked the fact that Starla was basically an innocent when she was turned against her will and by the time Jacob finds her, she is very angry about how she is living, the fact that she wasn’t given any choice, and also about how the guys in the cadre use the females for sex. Jacob is very attracted to Starla, but knows that Eillia, who is a first blood vampire is very fond of Starla, so he feels he shouldn’t hook up with Starla. Not only that, but he doesn’t want to use her like the guys in the cadre did.
I also absolutely loved to be a spectator to Starla’s world travels and to hear about the great pyramids in Egypt, the Sphinx, the Karnak Temple in Luxor, ziplining across Victoria Falls in Zambia, and with each place she visited, I Googled the place and got to see the sights with her, though she got to see them at night and most of the pictures in Google are in daylight, so I also had to use my imagination to see it as she and her traveling companion, Henri did. Another first blood named Ahmose was also introduced in this book.
I was afraid, when I started this series, that the entire series would be about Alvin, the vampire who wanted to end all other vampires and his war against the rest of the vampire race. I was glad to see that though he did appear in the last book, that each book has a different conflict. I kind of hate when a series is all about one overarching conflict. I like each book to be different and have the main characters fighting against different opponents with varying issues. I also love the fact that so many of the characters from previous books show up in each new book. And the settings are all different in each of these books, we have gone from California to Canada, to Colorado, to Alaska, to the south of France, to Paris and now to Egypt, Africa and more.
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December 20, 2016
I am super addicted to this series...I have already bought the next 2 books, and cant stop listening!! This is Starla and Jacobs story.... After being abducted and turned vampire without her consent..Starla is not happy...she is being physically violated and living in horrible conditions for a vampire...Jacob finds her, just to lose her again and then he gets kidnapped and violated against his will...after escaping he finds Starla again and they never want to let each other go...The thing is Amos a very strong firsts Vamp wants her also..they are meant to be together and have first children...can Jacob and Starla make it work?
Totally loved this, and am moving on to the next one now!! I highly recommend...each story can be listened to as a stand alone, but I do recommend starting with book 1!
1st listen 07/05/16
Relistened and it was super good a 2nd time...LOVED IT!!!! ON TO BOOK 5!!!!
Totally loved this, and am moving on to the next one now!! I highly recommend...each story can be listened to as a stand alone, but I do recommend starting with book 1!
1st listen 07/05/16
Relistened and it was super good a 2nd time...LOVED IT!!!! ON TO BOOK 5!!!!
January 1, 2019
Awesome book
This story was incredible,outstanding,exciting and just plain awesome 😄😊!. This series has been an amazing experience and interesting. C.L.is an excellent storyteller with a hellva imagination.
This story was incredible,outstanding,exciting and just plain awesome 😄😊!. This series has been an amazing experience and interesting. C.L.is an excellent storyteller with a hellva imagination.
May 28, 2022
I am in love with this series!
CL Quinn has an amazing talent for weaving the tales of this extraordinary family as lives are changed and mingled with pasts and futures. I'm so happy my daughter told me about this series!
CL Quinn has an amazing talent for weaving the tales of this extraordinary family as lives are changed and mingled with pasts and futures. I'm so happy my daughter told me about this series!
July 18, 2024
Hooked!!
I'm completely hooked and have fallen in love with all the characters, keeps me coming back for more!! On to the next book I can't wait!! Highly recommend this series! You won't be disappointed!
I'm completely hooked and have fallen in love with all the characters, keeps me coming back for more!! On to the next book I can't wait!! Highly recommend this series! You won't be disappointed!
January 27, 2020
Good book
I honestly was sure about this book. Way more crazier than normal but it turned out awesome. It’s well worth reading all the way.
I honestly was sure about this book. Way more crazier than normal but it turned out awesome. It’s well worth reading all the way.
July 6, 2020
Wow this is a really good series. The Firsts are vampires who are born not made. The First vampires are different from others. They are stronger and possess gifts that a 'made' vampire do not have.
Neither Jacob or Starla are First vampires but the storyline that surrounds them involves The Firsts. Great story, well written with lots of action and chilling moments that make you hold your breath. I am enjoying this series tremendously.
Neither Jacob or Starla are First vampires but the storyline that surrounds them involves The Firsts. Great story, well written with lots of action and chilling moments that make you hold your breath. I am enjoying this series tremendously.
March 20, 2024
Th1st book was great the 2nd and 3rd were good, I'm not found of this one I barely made it through
October 14, 2014
Very Exciting!
1st let me say, I read / listened to this book in audio format via audible.com. I grab the audio versions when I see them as audio breathes life into a book! Audio offers multiple voices, accents, proper pronunciations & loads of excitement in all the right places. It's like listening to a movie, only better because we all know the book is always better! Audio books also allow us to read hands free & still do chores, driving, house cleaning etc... .
Darkened Days by C L Quinn. This is book 4 of "The Firsts" series. In this book we have Jacob is sent to find Eillia 's friend Starla who was injured in an accident & then turns up missing. Some young vampires have been capturing women & turning them into vampires against their will. Starla turns out to be one of these turned vampires. Eventually Starla & Jacob become an item, but Jacob has competition. Amas is one the the "Firsts" who is looking at Starla to bear him some children.
With loads of excitement, tons of adventure & some really hot sex, this book like the other "Firsts" books doesn't disappoint us. I really enjoy this Author C L Quinn's stories. I love how she keeps bringing back characters from previous books that are familiar to me, like an old friend.
In the audio version of this book, Pyper Downs breathes life into this story making it an exciting adventure! Pyper is wonderful at multiple voices and her accents are fantastic. It's like a second language to Pyper Downs. I love listening to her tell a story! Kudos to both Pyper Downs & C L Quinn for another wonderful trip to the vampire world of the "Firsts"
1st let me say, I read / listened to this book in audio format via audible.com. I grab the audio versions when I see them as audio breathes life into a book! Audio offers multiple voices, accents, proper pronunciations & loads of excitement in all the right places. It's like listening to a movie, only better because we all know the book is always better! Audio books also allow us to read hands free & still do chores, driving, house cleaning etc... .
Darkened Days by C L Quinn. This is book 4 of "The Firsts" series. In this book we have Jacob is sent to find Eillia 's friend Starla who was injured in an accident & then turns up missing. Some young vampires have been capturing women & turning them into vampires against their will. Starla turns out to be one of these turned vampires. Eventually Starla & Jacob become an item, but Jacob has competition. Amas is one the the "Firsts" who is looking at Starla to bear him some children.
With loads of excitement, tons of adventure & some really hot sex, this book like the other "Firsts" books doesn't disappoint us. I really enjoy this Author C L Quinn's stories. I love how she keeps bringing back characters from previous books that are familiar to me, like an old friend.
In the audio version of this book, Pyper Downs breathes life into this story making it an exciting adventure! Pyper is wonderful at multiple voices and her accents are fantastic. It's like a second language to Pyper Downs. I love listening to her tell a story! Kudos to both Pyper Downs & C L Quinn for another wonderful trip to the vampire world of the "Firsts"
November 12, 2015
OMG.....I absolutely LOVED this story. The story kept me immersed and on the edge throughout. I have enjoyed the first three of The Firsts series but Darkened Days is by far, my favorite out of the four stories. I enjoyed listening to the narrator, who's talent can be heard as you listen. There's a few new characters that have been written in, as with most stories but these characters are like finding your best friend. Author C.L. Quinn brought this story together with pure perfection. I felt more light was shed in the first vampires and even turned vampires history. Wow...I truly enjoyed listening to this story so much that I can't stop from wanting to listen to it all over. I'm downloading the fifth audio to The Firsts, Final Days and I can't wait to listen to the next story because I don't know what I will do if it gets any better than this story. This series is fascinating and I HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who loves vampire stories. I love how it's written and learning more about these unique vamps and even the not so unique vampires. This series should be published by an author because it's written with heart, soul, and alot of talent. C.L. Quinn has an extraordinary vivid imagination. If you're a lover of audiobooks then this series is a MUST have. Pyper Down, the narrator did a wonderful job and her talent shows as you listen to her performance. I can't say just how much I loved and enjoyed listening to book #4, Darkened Days that I'm still in Aww.
July 23, 2013
Loved this book!!
It was great to follow Starla's transition to a vampire, her emotional struggle and the way Destiny waves itself in everyone's life. Nothing happens without a reason and if you make the right choice, life is beautiful.
I especially loved Starla as a character. She was reacting so humanly. And choosing to travel around the world wiuld definitely be my first choice if I had eternity :).
Can't wait to read Koen story, there's gonna be some fireworks for sure :).
It was great to follow Starla's transition to a vampire, her emotional struggle and the way Destiny waves itself in everyone's life. Nothing happens without a reason and if you make the right choice, life is beautiful.
I especially loved Starla as a character. She was reacting so humanly. And choosing to travel around the world wiuld definitely be my first choice if I had eternity :).
Can't wait to read Koen story, there's gonna be some fireworks for sure :).
February 1, 2016
This the 4th book in the "Firsts" series. It's gives your more of a glimpse into the world of the 'made' vampires. The reader learns that many of these vampires are struggling to survive in a world that is very harsh for the newly made. One human gets to step out from the shadows of being a support character and find how to deal with the circumstances that have been dealt in less the optimum fashion. It is an intense read and enjoyed it.
October 4, 2014
I KNEW IT!!! BRAVO I'm definitely going to need rehab!
my hat is off to ms quinn, she's a goddess of love and romance, especially in the paranormal realm!!! can't wait to start the next book
my hat is off to ms quinn, she's a goddess of love and romance, especially in the paranormal realm!!! can't wait to start the next book
January 26, 2015
Great read!!!
This is the 4th book in this series. I loved this book and I love this series!! Starla and Jacob are hot and the twists and turns throughout this book was outstanding!!! Start with book one. I promise you will love these books!! Happy reading!!!
This is the 4th book in this series. I loved this book and I love this series!! Starla and Jacob are hot and the twists and turns throughout this book was outstanding!!! Start with book one. I promise you will love these books!! Happy reading!!!
September 23, 2013
I have been following this series. All the books in the series was good.
November 3, 2013
Great Series!
February 15, 2014
Love this series. Can't wait til Days of Redemption comes out. This is the 2nd time I have read the Series.
September 1, 2016
Enjoyed it except for the 'c' word and look forward to read the next.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews